A view on the practical application of simulation in professional education

SummaryHealthcare delivery has traditionally been structured on the performance of expert, individual practitioners, reflecting the fundamental notion of specialization. In the rapidly changing healthcare industry, this approach is evolving. The increasing amount of clinical knowledge and technological advances, in combination with aging populations, are shaping organizations. Interdisciplinary healthcare teams have become the new model for patient care delivery. In this article we review why Virtual Hospitals are being proposed as a new training model paradigm. Virtual Hospitals replicate substantial aspects of the work environment, and allow simulated clinical immersion. They offer opportunities to reflect on how organizations work, learn how to be more effective when working with others, and acquire the tools that make the differences between an average and an excellent provider.