Fostering Collaborative Competence: A Virtual Simulation Framework for Health Professions

Fostering collaborative competence among future health professionals is essential for high-functioning, patient-centered care. Virtual synchronous simulation has emerged as a reliable and accessible method for developing interprofessional team skills. At the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, the Interprofessional Education (IPE) program has implemented a structured virtual simulation framework designed to promote rapid team formation and collaborative practice across diverse health disciplines.

During the 2024–2025 academic year, over 1,800 students from the Colleges of Allied Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Social Work participated in these simulations. Student behaviors were self-assessed using the Jefferson Team Observation Guide®, an instrument aligned with the IPEC Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. A total of 1,561 team-based responses were collected.

Findings revealed consistently high performance in the domains of Values and Ethics, Leadership, and Teamwork, with mean scores significantly exceeding the neutral benchmark (p < 0.001). Values and Ethics emerged as the highest-rated domain, highlighting a strong commitment to patient-centered care and professional integrity. These results underscore the effectiveness of the virtual simulation framework in cultivating mutual respect, shared accountability, and interprofessional collaboration.

This seminar will provide a step-by-step guide to implementing a virtual simulation framework for interprofessional education. Participants will explore the OU Interprofessional Simulation Template and leave with a customizable action plan for local adoption. The session aligns with the conference theme, Preparing Students for Interprofessional Practice, by offering a low-barrier, high-impact model for embedding team-based learning into health professions curricula.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the structure and components of a virtual IPE simulation program.

Demonstrate the OU IPE Simulation Template.

Develop a concept map as an action plan for implementation.

Engagement Strategies: Attendees will participate in active learning using Zoom features such as polls, chat, and whiteboard tools. They will receive a curriculum map, standard operating procedures, and the OU IPE Simulation Template to support immediate application. This seminar addresses the priority area of measurable learning and health outcomes by showcasing a proven educational modality with demonstrated impact.