Simulation versus reality: what can interprofessional simulation teach us about team dynamics in the trauma bay?

Interdisciplinary trauma simulations and structured debriefing sessions provide insights into team dynamics and interprofessional relationships. Simulations and debriefing sessions can promote understanding, respect, and familiarity of team members' roles; recognition of key characteristics of high functioning leaders and teams; and discovery of conflict mitigating strategies for future interdisciplinary team improvement. Simulation sessions allow implementation of quality improvement measures and communication and leadership strategy practice in a safe, collaborative learning environment. The lessons learned from these sessions can encourage participants to reexamine how they interact and function as a team within the real-life trauma bay.