The use of simulation in healthcare: from systems issues, to team building, to task training, to education and high stakes examinations.

Purpose of review Simulation in healthcare is becoming increasingly used. This review will spotlight some of the uses of simulation in healthcare training. Recent findings Previously, evaluation of simulation training was typically from evaluations from trainees. Recent articles, however, have linked simulation training to actual patient outcomes and demonstrated skill retention up to 1 year. Objective measurements have demonstrated positive effects on healthcare education, have been successfully used in high stakes examinations, and have uncovered systems and patient safety issues. Summary This article will review some recent studies showing how simulation can have a positive effect on patient outcomes and skill retention, uncover systems issues related to patient safety, and how simulation can be used in credentialing, and other high stakes examinations.