2024

The LifeSaver Schools CPR Project, led by SHE Consulting, has been transforming training in Sri Lanka’s Monaragala District. By applying the principles of simulation education, the initiative trained medical officers, teachers, and students in lifesaving CPR techniques, culminating in an engaging competition to crown the top "LifeSaver" among students.

The program spotlighted exceptional leadership at a local community hospital, where a dedicated young doctor drives innovation and compassionate care, proving thtat "the impossible is often just a challenge waiting to be overcome". The hospital, known for its palliative care services, community-funded expansions, and lean methodologies to improve patient care, exemplifies resilience and resourcefulness in healthcare delivery.

This initiative underscores the transformative potential of community-driven training programs and simulation-based education in strengthening healthcare systems. It also lays the groundwork for further advancements in India and Sri Lanka, including the development of a cutting-edge simulation center.

Read more about the project here.

Alan Platt and Giuseppe Leontino will be joining the Associate for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH) Standards and Accreditation committee in January, and Diego Olmo-Ferrer as Journal Liaison Lead supporting the ongoing development of ASPiH's affiliation with the journal and the association's direct membership benefits. The full list of ASPiH Executive Directors is available here: https://aspih.org.uk/home/meet-the-exec. 

New Book: Comprehensive Healthcare Simulation: Geriatric Simulation

The latest volume in the Comprehensive Healthcare Simulation series by Springer, Geriatric Simulation, explores advanced practices of working with older adult simulated participants (SPs) to enhance healthcare education. Edited by our own Editor-in-Chief Debra Nestel and Associate Editor Cathy Smith, together with JoHS reviewers, Lisa Sokoloff, and Nemat Alsaba - each leaders in the fields of SP methodology, geriatric emergency medicine, and health professions education - the book serves as a vital resource for educators and clinicians.

As the global population of older adults grows, training healthcare teams to deliver high-quality geriatric care becomes increasingly critical. This book highlights how engaging older adult SPs enriches training through authenticity, deeper learner engagement, and reduced risks of ageism or bias. It also addresses specific challenges of working with older adult SPs, such as accommodating cognitive, physical, and sensory changes, while ensuring their safety and maximizing educational outcomes. For more information see the link. You'll notice contributions from other Editorial Board members and in the table of contents.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-65742-9

The Asian Standardised Patient Educator Collaborative (AsiaSPEC) is proud to present a 3-day conference designed to promote Simulated Participant (SP) methodology in Asia. The theme of the conference is “Innovating SP methodology to strengthen humanism in healthcare education across Asia”. The conference will provide relevant and up-to-date information in this field through pre-conference workshops, plenary lectures, symposiums, panel discussions, small group interactions, oral and poster presentations. Topics will include SP programme management, case writing, SP training, feedback, assessment and quality assurance. There will also be opportunities for delegates to meet and network with practitioners and experts from around the world.

This conference is organised by the AsiaSPEC, formed by a group of SP educators in Asia who are passionate about SP methodology and its many applications in healthcare professional education. Our mission is to promote SP methodology in Asia, to connect SP educators in Asia for networking, collaboration and to share resources. We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Nagoya for this inaugural conference from 25 to 27 April 2025.

Website for information and registration: https://www.k-gakkai.jp/asiaspec2025/

ASPiH 2024 Conference – Transformative Simulation 

The JoHS team were delighted to be a part of the 2024 ASPiH conference in Edinburgh this year. It was wonderful to meet so many authors, reviewers and editors and we are proud to have published the conference abstracts in the Journal of Healthcare Simulation, ASPiH's official scholarly journal!

Access the full set of conference abstracts here and read the Editorial here.

Welcome to the new Journal of Healthcare Simulation (JoHS). I’m very excited about our new identity supported by our experienced and trusted production team. I’m also proud that JoHS is the official journal of the Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH), the United Kingdom-based professional society for simulation practitioners. Please see the benefits of ASPiH membership with respect to open access fees for JoHS.

Our editorial board members are largely well known to each other, and I am confident that these relationships will serve the healthcare simulation community well, as we support the dissemination of works to advance our field. Please see our article types for inspiration in planning your manuscripts.

We have a continuing publishing model rather than being issues based which means we publish articles as they are accepted. Already in our manuscript management system, we have some outstanding articles.

Follow us on social media to ensure you receive alerts. The success of JoHS relies at minimum on the dedication of the editorial board, of reviewers, of authors and of course our readers. I express my gratitude to all those contributing to JoHS. 

Debra Nestel AM PhD FAcadMed FSSH
Editor in Chief, Journal of Healthcare Simulation
Professor of Healthcare Simulation, Monash University
Professor of Surgical Education, University of Melbourne 

New Journal of Healthcare Simulation Launches with Debra Nestel as Editor-in-Chief

The healthcare community welcomes a new academic resource with the launch of the Journal of Healthcare Simulation (JoHS), now live at johs.org.uk. Following on from the success of the International Journal of Healthcare Simulation, this new publication aims to be a central hub for research, education, and practice in healthcare simulation, offering the latest insights into the use of simulation in healthcare training and patient care.

Debra Nestel, a distinguished professor and renowned expert in healthcare simulation, will serve as the journal's Editor-in-Chief. With an extensive background in simulation-based education and a global reputation for her contributions to healthcare training, Debra brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the publication. Under her guidance, JoHS seeks to publish high-quality research, case studies, reviews, and perspectives that will advance the use of simulation in healthcare.

The journal promises to cover a wide range of topics, including innovative simulation methods and the impact of simulation on patient outcomes. JoHS will provide an Open Access platform for healthcare professionals, educators, and researchers to share their experiences, foster collaboration, and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in healthcare simulation.

With its commitment to quality and relevance, the Journal of Healthcare Simulation is poised to become an essential resource for the healthcare community, driving improvements in training, practice, and ultimately, patient care.

For more information, visit johs.org.uk.