SSH Joins National EMS Leaders to Define Core Principles for Simulation-Based Education

HARRISON, Ohio — The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) has joined forces with the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE), and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians to issue a unified position statement on simulation-based education (SBE) in EMS training.

The collaborative statement affirms simulation as an essential component of emergency medical services education at all levels. With increasing demands on EMS programs and evolving healthcare environments, the organizations jointly recognize SBE as a proven, evidence-based methodology to enhance student learning, foster critical thinking, and improve patient safety.

At the core of the statement are six guiding principles that provide a framework for effective, ethical, and sustainable integration of simulation into EMS curricula:

1. Shared Language – Encouraging the adoption of standardized terminology such as the Healthcare Simulation Dictionary and shared values like the CMS Basic Assumption™ to create consistent, psychologically safe learning environments.
2. Common Principles – Recommending recognized standards from SSH, INACSL, ASPE, and the Global Consensus Statement to ensure quality, consistency, and ethical integrity in simulation delivery.
3. Acknowledging the Strengths of SBE – Highlighting simulation’s role in standardizing assessment, replicating complex clinical scenarios, and supporting decision-making in high-risk, low-frequency events.
4. Recognizing the Limitations of SBE – Addressing practical and instructional constraints including artificiality, cost, and the need for properly trained faculty and resources.
5. Respecting Programmatic Flexibility – Allowing individual EMS programs to determine the appropriate role and extent of simulation use based on regional, clinical, and resource-related factors.
6. Commitment to Continued Growth – Supporting ongoing development, credentialing (CHSE® and CHSOS®), and professional advancement to sustain and improve simulationist practice.

SSH and its partners call on EMS educators, institutions, and accreditors to embrace these principles and reinforce simulation as a foundational tool in preparing the next generation of emergency medical professionals.

To read the full position statement and view contributing organizations, please see the attached document.