“Let’s go on safari”: Development of a visually enhanced mental simulation for healthcare team collaboration

Abstract

Healthcare team training traditionally relies on medically complex simulations, which may not always emphasize collaboration skills. Visually Enhanced Mental Simulations (VEMS) emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative. A non-medical VEMS, Let’s Go on Safari, was refined through three Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles via participant feedback and peer review. Interprofessional participants expressed high satisfaction, and simulation facilitator peers affirmed its potential value in fostering teamwork. The Safari VEMS provides a low-stakes, low-resource approach with the possibility of breaking down silos and enhancing healthcare team collaboration, offering an innovative modality for skill development beyond traditional medical-based simulations.