ASPiH Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Purpose: to improve standards and develop shared expertise through communities of practice which can be applied to benefit the use of simulation in healthcare education, research and patient safety improvement.
Structure: Each SIG will be chaired by a member of the ASPiH community and have a linked executive member to act as a conduit of information with the ASPiH Exec and conference local committee [LC]
Special Interest Groups are open to everyone including non members. However we would encourage people to join ASPIH in order to gain access to the full range of benefits available to members, including recordings and shared resources.
For further information please contact us [email protected]
If your firewall doesn't allow you to download the below SIG resources please email [email protected] and a copy can be sent to you by email.
Transformative Simulation Special Interest Group (SIG)
ASPiH Executive SIG Leads: Sharon M Weldon; Andy Buttery
We define Transformative Simulation as:
“A tool to transform health & care through collective understanding, insight and learning.”
Are you frustrated by delivering or wanting to deliver innovative simulation but are hampered in being unable to find a formal, conventional structure to describe, design and evaluate it?
Transformative Simulation could be the solution, the objective of this SIG is to contribute to making it so.
What is Transformative Simulation?
Transformative simulation is an umbrella term for simulation activities that are non-pedagogical, that is, they are not designed and structured around pre-specified learning outcomes. Instead, simulation is used to innovate, improve, intervene, involve, identify, include or influence (the 7 SBI’s). It can do several of these things at once and includes specific simulation applications such as translational simulation, simulation-based improvement, and simulation-based interventions.
Understanding the principles and components of transformative simulation will help you ask the best questions and chose the best criteria to design, evaluate and report your non-pedagogical simulation activity.
The SIG
The transformative simulation SIG will focus on the application of 7 rainbow Simulation-Based Interventions (SBI) in describing and understanding non-pedagogic simulation activities.
The vision for Transformative Simulation (TS) – and for this Special Interest Group (SIG) – is to support our Simulationists to:
Understand the concept and add to its development
Consider what primary, secondary, and perhaps tertiary SBI’s apply to a TS activity.
Utilise this knowledge in robust and rigorous design, evaluation, and reporting
Be able to search the literature more easily for relevant evidence, and to combine evidence
Contribute to the ongoing debate about the nature, breadth, challenges, and opportunities of TS as a living and evolving concept.
Next Meeting dates
ASPIH Transformative Simulation Special Interest Group (SIG) are holding the following meetings
- 22nd July 1pm: Click Here
- 4th September 1pm: Click Here
- 25th November 1pm: Click Here
Terms of reference
The purpose of the Transformative Simulation SIG is to form an inclusive, collegiate, group of people: service-users, technicians, educators, practitioners, subject-matter experts, and others who will build a collaborative community of practice involved in the study and development of Transformative Simulation. This means contributing to the growing body of knowledge by sharing insights, examples and knowledge to advance the field and our understanding of it.
For further information please contact us here
We are continuing our monthly ASPiH Tech SIG meet ups, which will run online every month. Each monthly meeting will alternate between webinar format (guest speakers on specific topics informed by our members, with opportunity to ask questions and have discussion about the latest tech issues) and progressing the work of the ASPiH Technical Special Interest Group (key workstreams, meeting the needs of SIG members and conference 2023). To attend or present at these meetings, please contact us here
Co-Chairs: Chris Gay
Charles Everard
Mary Holding
The ASPiH TechSIG has been active since Oxford 2012, over 60 technicians have engaged at various conferences and the community continues to grow!
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Chris, we would love to hear from you!
Relevant documents:
ASPiH TechSIG Terms of reference
Other documents of interest uploaded by the Chair of the TECH SIG
A group aiming to bring together paediatric simulation educators in the UK to share good practice and help each other with challenges.
Co Chairs: Tim Mason
Abigail Nye
Please contact us if you'd like to be linked in with the group and with others in your region.
Remit
- To enhance communication, share information and encourage multidisciplinary input in the production of high quality and independently appraised SBE
- To promote and disseminate the information produced by the Standards committee of ASPiH.
- To produce/support the creation of evidence-based information to enhance the delivery of simulation-based activities consistent with the aims of ASPIH
- To form links with other organisations with similar aims i.e. improving patient care and professional performance by the use of simulated practice and technology enhanced learning.
- To support the community to meet the requirements of the ASPiH Accreditation Process
Outcome
The SIG reports to:
- ASPIH Executive Committee
- The membership at the AGM
Duration
As defined by the ASPiH Executive Committee
Membership
- Chair: appointed by the President and Committee of the ASPIH
- Interested members of the ASPiH, representing the diverse nature of the simulation community
- At least one ASPIH Executive Committee member is invited to attend the meetings
Meetings
The SIG will meet at least once a year face to face at the annual conference and quarterly virtually. Ad hoc meetings may be called for as needed.
The SIG Chair will attend the annual ASPiH SIG chairs meeting
Confidentiality
All deliberations within the SIG are confidential unless divulged within the ASPiH Executive Committee or as part of any formal ASPiH policy.
MAKANI PURVA
Chair ASPiH Standards and Accreditation SIG
September 2024
For more information and to join the SIG, please contact us
For more information, please visit Accreditation
ASPiH Simulation Research Special Interest Group
ASPiH Executive SIG Lead: Sharon M Weldon
Purpose: To provide a platform to share and promote research within the ASPiH community.
As part of the group's purpose we seek to:
- Support opportunities to learn and develop research skills
- Foster collaborative research and the sharing of evidence and approaches
- Provide tailored research support and expertise to those who might need it
Meeting: The SIG will meet annually at ASPiH’s annual conference and other ASPiH events throughout the year as required. These meetings will be an opportunity for all attendees to share ideas, practice, and request support from the community.
We encourage anyone with an interest to attend! See you at conference!
Read the ASPiH Research SIG Terms of Reference
For further information please contact us here
PC SIG Leads:
Dr Jane Roome, Associate Dean, West Kent, Lead for KSS PC Simulation Faculty, and ASPiH executive member
Professor Gerry Gormley, Chair in Simulation and Clinical Skills, Centre for Medical Education, Queen's University, Belfast
Dr Sam Smith, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Centre for Education, School of Medicine, University of Dundee
Aims: The aim of the PC SIG is to bring PC based educators, interested in or already involved in simulation based education (SBE), together to share the unique challenges in delivering SBE to primary care staff and collaborate on enablers, so that we can enhance and contribute to conversations regarding the benefits of simulation training and expand access to the PC workforce.
For further information please contact us here
We welcome everyone who works in primary care to the group and extend the invitation to anyone delivering SBE in a non traditional setting, including colleagues in Community and Social Care, to join us in and sharing and expanding our knowledge together.
ASPiH SIG leads:
Co-Chairs
- Hannah Ames - Senior Lecturer, Plymouth Marjon University
- Deputy Chair Colette Laws-Chapman
We are a group of colleagues with a passion for sustainability. Through this new group we are aiming to create a space for simulation practitioners utilising the breadth of simulation activities in health and care, to discuss sustainability, share good practice and the evidence to support it.
Our plan is to develop some sustainable simulation and clinical skills education guidance and raise awareness of how we can all assist in environmental sustainability, as well as consider co-benefits such as financial savings and social responsibility.
Please contact us if you'd like to be linked in with this group.
Our short to medium goal is to establish an ASPiH Sustainability SIG online forum, and consider relevant research, audit, and quality improvement programmes to implement and support the guidance.
Membership: all ASPiH members are welcome. We are a community of professionals, with different practices and different levels of experience with debriefing on simulation. Anyone can join in and share as they feel comfortable to.
Contact us here to join
ASPiH SIG leads: Colette Laws-Chapman, Diego Olmo-Ferrer and Nathan Oliver
We are a group aiming to create a space for simulation educators utilising debriefing methods in healthcare, to discuss techniques, share good practice and help each other develop our skills and networks.
We have three steering group meetings a year to set and review progress on our strategic objectives, hold online development meetings as required and have a whats app group for rapid communication. The next meetings are on 19th June, 8th September and at the ASPiH 2025 conference.
Please contact us if you'd like to join this special interest group.
We have achieved one of our goals, to establish an online ASPiH Meta Debrief Club (MDC).
MDC aim: To create a community of practice around debriefing, creating space for sharing and reflecting on our debriefing practices for the purpose of enhancing performance and assuring quality.
This runs monthly on MS teams.
MDC Membership: all SIG members are welcome to attend the MDC. We are a community of professionals, with different practices and different levels of experience with debriefing of simulation-based activities. Anyone can attend as an observer, join in the discussion and share their own experiences as they feel comfortable to.
Meta-debriefing supports CPD and allows us opportunity for reflections with peers.
For further information about the MDC please read through our resources, and to join us contact us here
The SIG Chairs would like to hear from anyone who is interested in joining the ASPiH Human Factors & Ergonomics SIG. They are keen to hear peoples ideas, experiences, or connections to share from their own practice or wider afield that might be of interest to this SIG community.
Members from all professions and industry are welcome.
Co Chairs: Kevin Stirling
Paul Bowie
Contact us here to join the group
Join us for the rescheduled ASPiH Human Factors and Ergonomics Special Interest Group Meeting
Monday 27th October,
11:30 - 13:00
Online, on MS Teams
Patrik Nyström, from Safety Factors Finland will join this meeting to share his experiences of implementing Human Factors Sciences within the oil industry. Come and hear about the successes and challenges of implementing challenges of implementing change within a highly complex organisation.
All welcome. To join the meeting email [email protected]
Chair: Anita Banerjee
Co-Chair: Lisa Cook
Why does maternity specific simulation matter?
Pregnant women present in all healthcare settings, from general practice to the emergency department, the ambulance service to mental health services. From the most recent MBRRACE-UK report (2019-2021) we know that 10% of the women who died at >20 weeks gestation did so with the ambulance service or in the emergency department, with a further 6% dying at home where the ambulance service would be the first responders. If we are to improve maternal morbidity and mortality in the UK it is essential that we share expertise from the maternity services with other members of the wider healthcare team.
If teams do not frequently encounter pregnant women, high quality simulation is even more vital to improve communication within and between teams and identify factors that can hinder professional performance. Reports continue to reiterate that these factors play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes for pregnant women.
What are the aims of the maternity SIG?
We aim to bring together a group of enthusiastic healthcare professionals from different sectors to identify key areas where maternity specific simulation would benefit those who do not usually work within maternity services. What situations do other professions find the most challenging? Where do they feel they have important knowledge gaps? How should they best communicate with maternity services? What helps a team function best in an obstetric emergency?
We aim to learn from other simulation educators to improve existing simulation practices within maternity services, looking beyond emergency simulation.
We aim to educate simulation leaders in other fields about changes we are seeing within the pregnant population, with multi-morbidity and rising pregnancy complications, using simulation to stimulate discussion about management of these more complex scenarios.
We aim to shine a light upon conscious and unconscious biases that we know affect pregnant women in the UK. We will work as a group to identify ways we can use maternity simulation to raise awareness of these biases and introduce practices in professional areas to reduce the health inequality faced by our pregnant women.
Should I be part of the maternity SIG?
We invite any health professionals who encounter pregnant women in their practice to join the maternity SIG, particularly those with an interest in updating their simulation practice to improve maternal outcomes and reduce health inequity for pregnant women. Together we can shape the next steps in transforming and disseminating best practice in maternity simulation.
Contact us here to join the group
SIG Leads:
Anita Bignall, Lead Simulation Nurse Educator and Registered Mental Health Nurse, Maudsley Learning
Chris Kowalski, Simulation Lead and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Aims:
The aim of the MH SIG is to bring together all those interested in, or already involved in, developing simulation-based education (SBE) around mental healthcare. This might include those based in both formal mental healthcare settings and those settings not typically associated with mental healthcare as well as higher educational institutions.
We hope to develop a community of practice that can further conversations around the benefits of simulation for improving the care of those with mental health difficulties.
We would like to invite to anyone with an interest in incorporating mental health themes into SBE – this may be in any number of specialties or settings – with the view to specifically considering integrated care, cross-agency working and patient experience.
We hope to share good practice, create opportunities and promote collaboration across the group while advancing innovation in this area and supporting the development of a research base for the use of simulation in mental healthcare.
We will launch the group at the ASPiH conference on 4th November 2024. For those who can't attend then please contact us to join the group and for more information regarding future meetings.
Contact us here to join the group
Chair: Libby Thomas
This interprofessional SIG brings together educators with a special interest in simulation who are from all parts of the Emergency Care pathway. This includes, but is not exclusive to, paramedics, emergency department & urgent care centre doctors, nurses, AHPs and mental health workers, and anyone else involved in the patient’s onward trajectory into tertiary care or back to primary care and the community.
We aim to build a community of practice so that we can share good practice and the challenges we face, ideas we have developed, collaborate and support each other. Together we can advance innovation in this area and support the development of a research base for the use of simulation in emergency healthcare.
We aim to meet at ASPiH annual conference and in addition have 2-4 ‘Lunch and Learn’ or early evening sessions a year where members are invited to share some of the great work they are doing with the rest of the group.
Do join!
Contact us here to join the group
Approved Education Institute (AEI), Special Interest Group
Provides a community of simulated practice within AEI’s with particular reference to nursing.
The next meeting, will occur on:
📅 28th October at 15.00
📍 Online, on MS Teams.
Building on the initial summer launch of the AEI SIG, the main focus of this forthcoming meeting will be to learn more about ASPiH accreditation processes. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible then.
Contact us here to join the group
Co- Chairs:
- Fiona Suthers
- Andy Buttery
- Carmel Fitzsimons
SIG leads – No Student Chairs as still in formation phase
Supporting SIG at early stage , Lorraine Whatley, and Amanda Wilford
What is a SIG?
A SIG is a group where members can share information, ideas , research, and network with each other. In this Student SIG you can learn from and with each other and work within this society to ensure that activities represent you as a student at any level within social and healthcare.
Why should I join?
This is an opportunity for you to contribute to simulation to aid your learning and enhance the learning experience for your peers and the wider simulation community, Becoming a member can be added to your CV that may benefit you when entering employment or undertaking additional qualifications.
You are the future leaders of simulation, so this is an opportunity to shape the future
Aim of this group
This is a new group and the first meeting we will discuss our aims and how we want to meet and work together. All meeting attendees will receive a short questionnaire to capture ideas – this will be anonymised. We will discuss co-chairs and how to elect.
Contact us here to join the group
Join the Conversation – Shape the Future!
Our XR & AI SIG is an open and collaborative platform designed to:
- Showcase industry solutions & highlight innovative projects
- Facilitate knowledge-sharing between organisations
- Explore the intersection of AI & XR to drive new possibilities
- Engage both experts and newcomers in the field
- Provide real-world insights from institutions & Trusts
- Updates from partnership with apoQlar medical for current projects and case studies.
Contact us here to join the group
Chair: Naomi Shiner
Co-Chair: Lauren Philpott
Why does co-production with patients and SP's matter?
Co-production with patients and simulated patients or participants (SPs) matters because it brings authenticity, inclusivity, and effectiveness to healthcare education and service improvement.
What are the aims of the CPSP SIG?
1. Develop and Share Case Studies:
- Objective: Create and disseminate detailed examples and case studies that illustrate the application of ASPiH Standards 2023.
- Outcome: Enable members and simulationists to translate these standards into their own practices, leading to improved simulation safety and quality.
2. Promote Core Values:
- Objective: Ensure all activities within the SIG adhere to ASPiH's core values: Safety, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI), Sustainability, and Excellence.
- Outcome: Foster a culture of safety and excellence in simulation practices, while promoting diversity and sustainability.
3. Support Professional Development:
- Objective: Facilitate continuous professional development for all individuals involved in the design, delivery, evaluation, and translation of simulated practice.
- Outcome: Enhance the skills and competencies of faculty and simulated patients (SPs), ensuring high-quality simulation experiences.
4. Contribute to the Professional Framework:
- Objective: Integrate the work of the SIG into the professional framework being developed across the Four Nations, Ireland, and ASPiH.
- Outcome: Align SIG activities with broader organisational goals, supporting the growth and sustainability of simulation practices globally.
Contact us here to join the group
- New to facilitating simulation?
- On a fixed term educational post in simulation?
- A current or recent education fellow with an interest in simulation?
If answering YES to any of these – please register your interest!
Virtual events occurring monthly from Summer 2025!
- 16th September 13.00–14.00pm Topic: What I wish I knew when I started in simulation – learning from previous fellows and new faculty
- 30th October 2025 - 12.30 / 13.30, Principles of research and evaluation in Simulation
- November – ASPiH Conference 12-13th Time TBC
To join the mailing list for meeting links and other information: click here
Contact us here to join the group