Simulation is often employed to test mass casualty and disaster response planning within hospitals, but it is resource intensive and needs to achieve high-quality recreation of scenarios to be effective. The delivery of large-scale interdisciplinary team and system simulation requires consideration of physical safety, system integrity for real patients, simulation team communication, and effective dissemination of outcomes.

To describe challenges and potential solutions for effective delivery of disaster simulations, drawn from simulation service experience at Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS).

This case study reviews strategies used to deliver a large-scale multi-team in-hospital disaster and trauma simulation, involving more than 75 participants drawn from paramedic/ambulance, emergency, trauma service, anesthetics, perioperative, surgical, and hospital administrative teams.

Issues reviewed include simulation delivery team composition and briefing, safety strategies, matching simulation methodology to exercise objectives, the use of real-time communications technologies and apps for real-time communication and performance tracking, and leveraging the simulation experience for observers by narrated Facetime stream. Following the simulation, a debriefing was conducted with participants to address performance, communication and interfaces, strengths and weaknesses, and overall opportunity for improvement. Facility-wide dissemination of messages through standardized reporting, infographics, and video vignettes were also reviewed.

Simulation is an engaging way to assess protocols and practices for disaster response within a tertiary hospital, and effectiveness can be enhanced through the strategic use of contemporary techniques and technologies.