The “Code of Ethics” was developed by a worldwide group of more than 40 contributing authors and establishes a set of values to support the quality and ethical practice of healthcare simulation, taking the specialty yet another step forward as a professionally-recognized field of practice in healthcare.
“As healthcare simulation has become increasingly identifiable as a defined profession within healthcare that has specific parameters, we felt it necessary to both support and further the process by unifying around a code of ethics,” said Christine Park, professor of anesthesiology, associate head for Learning and Innovation at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a former president of the Society.
Approximately 30 organizations have adopted the code, which asserts six key aspirational values important to the practice of simulation: integrity, transparency, mutual respect, professionalism, accountability, and results orientation.
An ethical framework
“This a transformative moment for healthcare simulation,” said KT Waxman, president of the Society of Simulation in Healthcare. “Every day, healthcare simulationists operate with dedication to ethics, patient safety, efficiency, and demonstrated effectiveness. Codifying that behavior and asking everyone in our field to stand behind it is essential to our growth and recognition from the wider healthcare community.”
Work on the “Code of Ethics” began at a summit in January 2018, bringing together a global working group of healthcare simulationists. Delegates represented six continents, a breadth of professions and simulation practices, and leadership from simulation organizations and industry partners.
Spreading throughout the industry
Since being released a few months ago, the free-to-download “Code of Ethics” already has been translated from English to French, German, and Italian. Additionally, plans are underway for many more translations.
Any organization involved in healthcare simulation is encouraged to adopt the “Healthcare Simulationist Code of Ethics.”
Healthcare simulation is a technique that creates a situation or environment to allow persons to experience a representation of a real healthcare event for the purpose of practice, learning, evaluation, testing, or to gain understanding of systems or human actions. It is also defined as the application of a simulation activity to training, assessment, research, or systems integration toward healthcare quality and patient safety.
To download the “Healthcare Simulationist Code of Ethics,” or to learn more about the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, visit: https://www.ssih.org/SSH-Resources/Code-of-Ethics.
Society for Simulation in Healthcare, [email protected]