Development of a flexible and extensible computer-based simulation platform for healthcare students

Accessing appropriate clinical placement posttlons for all health profession students can be expensive and challenging. Increasingly simulation, in a range of modes, is being used to enhance student learning and prepare them for clinical placement. Commonly these simulations are focused on the use of simulated patient mannequins which typically presented as single-event scenarios, difficult to· organise, and usually scenarios include only a single healthcare profession. Computer based simulation is relatively under-researched and underutilised but is beginning to demonstrate potential benefits. This paper describes the development and trialling of an entirely virtual 3D simulated environment for inter-professional student education.