An Analysis Comparing “Sim Huddles” to Traditional Simulation for Obstetric Emergency Preparedness

Health care professionals in obstetrics must be prepared to respond when emergencies arise. Simulation provides the opportunity to train in a team setting but can be resource-intensive. A postprogram implementation analysis compared high-fidelity in-situ simulation to a novel approach called “Sim Huddles.” Sim Huddles are conducted in a quick, informal, low-fidelity staff huddle format incorporating concepts of TeamSTEPPS®. Postsimulation participant surveys from nine Sim Huddles were compared to nine traditional in-situ simulations. Results show similar achievement of learning goals and statistically significant improvement in self-reported confidence (p = .002) from the traditional in-situ format (mean = 4.32, sd = .771) compared to the Sim Huddle format (mean = 4.74, sd = .480). Sim Huddles can provide effective training with less time and fewer resources than what is required of traditional, high-fidelity simulation.