Less Tech, More Training: A Conversation on Simplifying Simulation a KeyLIME Collaboration

Recently, Victoria Brazil joined Adam Szulewski on the KeyLIME podcast for a thoughtful conversation about simulation, training, and what busy healthcare teams actually need.

🎧 Listen to the episode here.

The episode, “Less Tech, More Training: Simplifying Simulation for Busy Healthcare Teams,” explores a question many educators are grappling with: how do we make simulation meaningful, sustainable, and doable in real clinical environments?

Throughout the conversation, Vic and Adam reflect on how simulation has sometimes drifted toward increasing technological complexity—often at the cost of accessibility. They discuss the tension between impressive equipment and practical training, and why many teams struggle to run simulation regularly despite good intentions.

A central theme of the episode is that simulation works best when it focuses on people, not props. Communication, teamwork, decision-making, and shared mental models are the elements that truly improve care—yet these don’t require a sim lab, a mannequin, or a perfect setup.

This perspective strongly aligns with the principles behind Visually Enhanced Mental Simulation (VEMS). By stripping simulation back to its essentials, VEMS allows teams to train more often, in more places, and with fewer barriers. Simple visual prompts and thoughtful facilitation can create rich learning experiences that fit into the realities of clinical work.

The conversation also touches on faculty development, sustainability, and the importance of designing training that educators can actually deliver—week after week, not just once or twice a year. For teams under pressure, less tech can mean more training.

If you’re interested in simulation design, medical education, or finding ways to support busy healthcare teams, this episode is well worth a listen. It offers a clear reminder that sometimes the most effective innovations aren’t about adding more—but about simplifying what we already do.