Results of a Nationwide Descriptive Survey on Simulation Center Operations

Background: The adoption of simulation-based education is growing in the health care sector. There is a paucity of cataloged descriptive data on simulation center (SC) operations and demographics. This study aims to build on previous efforts by systematically collecting, analyzing, and disseminating US-based SCs’ descriptive data focused on center operations and demographics. Method: A total of 424 SCs were identified within the United States and sent a 29-question online survey. Results: A total of 159 SCs responded from 38 states. Data were organized in themes of demographics, staffing, governance, funding, and usage. Conclusions: This study found (1) simulation is broadly adopted throughout many health care professions; (2) center sizes vary, but trends exist based on location, with centers located in hospitals being the smallest; (3) staffing numbers and roles vary, but technicians are the most common; (4) funding sources vary greatly, but most centers are not profitable; and (5) just less than half of centers had a governing body.