Simulation-Enhanced Interprofessional Education: A Best Practice for Collaborative Healthcare Training

Abstract

Simulation-Enhanced Interprofessional Education (SIM-IPE) has emerged as a transformative strategy to bridge gaps left by traditional interprofessional education (IPE) methods in preparing healthcare students for real-world collaborative practice. This paper critically examines SIM-IPE as a best practice for fostering teamwork, communication, and role clarity among students from diverse health professions. Grounded in experiential learning theory and supported by empirical evidence, SIM-IPE offers immersive, high-fidelity clinical scenarios that enhance students' readiness for team-based care. The paper synthesizes seven core themes, including SIM-IPE’s ability to address limitations in traditional IPE, promote psychological safety, develop core interprofessional competencies, and provide strategies for sustainable curriculum integration. It further explores the influence of faculty development, institutional support, and logistical innovation on successful implementation. While challenges such as financial constraints, faculty resistance, and professional silos persist, the findings underscore SIM-IPE’s pivotal role in advancing collaborative, patient-centered care and call for systemic reforms to embed it as a core component of health professions education.