Simulation-based medical education (SBME) has become a cornerstone of clinical training over the recent decades. SBME offers a safe, controlled, and effective learning environment for the acquisition of various skills without risking patients and learners. Drawing on current research and evidence, this review describes the development of SBME from its historical origins to contemporary high-fidelity simulations. Findings from meta-analyses consistently demonstrate the superiority of SBME over traditional medical education in skills and competency acquisition, particularly when simulation is integrated with deliberate practice, repetitive training, and structured feedback. Although most SBME applications to date have focused on postgraduate training, integrating simulation as an integral component of undergraduate medical education is expected to enhance the quality and relevance of physician training and improve patient safety.
This document examines the contribution of simulation centers to the development of clinical, communication, and cognitive skills, and their alignment with competency-based medical education (CBME), which emphasizes continuous assessment of readiness for independent practice. Simulation enables the systematic implementation of practice, feedback, and direct assessment of complex competencies, serving both as a training modality and as a standardized assessment tool.
The operation of medical simulation centers entails substantial costs, and within university settings it is often conducted without a stable, dedicated funding source, creating intra and inter-institutional disparities and undermining the stability and quality of training. To tackle this state of affars, an inaugural meeting was convened in April 2025 to establish a policy discussion forum under the auspices of the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research at the Technion. The meeting focused on the importance of integrating medical simulation into the academic education of physicians and other health professions in Israel. The establishment of this forum was motivated by the financial constraints faced by faculties of medicine and universities, alongside growing academic needs and national and international accreditation requirements mandating the use of simulation in education on the one hand and the absence of a clear policy and dedicated funding mechanisms on the other hand. We also address technological innovations, such as virtual reality and generative artificial intelligence, which enable personalized learning, adaptive feedback, and an expanded range of scenarios, alongside pedagogical, economic, and ethical challenges that require regulation, training, and quality assurance. Methodological limitations in the existing literature and evidence regarding the impact of SBME on patient care outcomes, generally reporting small to moderate improvements, are also discussed.
In summary, we recommend formal recognition of medical simulation centers as a national infrastructure and the establishment of a nationwide consortium of faculties of medicine, universities, and other institutions involved in medical and health professions education in Israel. The consortium shall be tasked with defining uniform standards, coordinating shared procurement and maintenance, developing educational content, advancing instructors training, and fostering a professional community of practice. Funding for these activities will combine multi-year government funding, institutional participation, and external partnerships, with the objective of reducing costs, leveraging economies of scale, and minimizing duplications. This initiative is expected to enhance the quality of medical training, reduce errors, and promote the efficient use of national resources for the benefit of the Israeli healthcare system. In conclusion, the report presents strategic recommendations for implementing SBME as a national infrastructure, promoting inter-institutional collaboration, advancing systematic research and evaluation, and leveraging simulation as a central tool in the training of future physicians in Israel.
Medical Simulation Centers as a National Resource in Medical Education | Hebrew Version
