1 What is Digital Simulation?

Digital simulation in healthcare involves using advanced technologies to create realistic scenarios for training, evaluation, and improvement of medical practices. Here are some key applications:

1. Medical/Healthcare Professional Training: Simulation-based training allows healthcare professionals to practice procedures and decision-making in a risk-free environment. This includes using mannequins, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to simulate surgeries, emergency responses, and routine medical procedures.
2. Clinical Simulation: This involves placing end-users in simulated real-life scenarios to evaluate digital health technologies. It helps generate high-quality, cost-effective evidence to support the use of these technologies, such as Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .
3. Patient Care Improvement: Simulations can be used to model patient care processes and identify potential improvements. Simulations can be developed from incident reporting to increase awareness and understanding of how to manage situations accordingly.
4. Regulatory Frameworks: Simulation is also used to evaluate digital health technologies from a regulatory perspective. For example, the Simulation for Regulation of SaMD (SIROS) framework helps assess clinical simulation methods to ensure they meet regulatory standards. ASPiH Standards 2023 – ASPiH

These applications highlight how digital simulation is transforming healthcare by enhancing education, improving patient care, and supporting the evaluation of innovative technologies.