Many hospital-based simulation centers are not revenue-generating, making it crucial to justify their existence through other means. By leveraging utilization metrics, centers can demonstrate their value far beyond direct income. Capturing and promoting these data points not only sets a center apart—it paves the way for continued support and future growth.
Patient safety is a top priority for Hartford Healthcare, and over the past few years, the system has invested in the growth of its simulation center—recognizing that training is the gateway to safety. But it wasn’t always this way. It took years of telling CESI's story and demonstrating our impact to garner the support needed to grow CESI into the 53,000-square-foot facility it is today.
Tracking the number of learners, educators, and their roles through CESI's user data has helped to drive continued investment. With 23,000 annual visitors spanning every role in the system, including nurses, attendings, fellows, APPs, residents, respiratory therapists, and more, the data painted a clear picture of our value. By monitoring user sign-ins and tracking learner hours, faculty engagement, and feedback, CESI is able to demonstrate its critical role in advancing healthcare education.
Healthcare simulation centers support low-dose, high-frequency training, enabling providers to regularly practice high-risk procedures that they may rarely encounter in real clinical settings. Readily available access to these training modalities allows both new and seasoned providers to receive timely, hands-on education. Ongoing training, combined with real-time feedback, helps healthcare professionals stay up-to-date in their knowledge and skills—boosting their confidence and ultimately driving patient safety by reducing medical errors.
By layering continuing education with a focus on high-frequency or high-impact errors, simulation can address some of the most pressing pain points in the healthcare system. Through gap analysis, simulation teams can identify the root causes of errors and guide the development of targeted, customized training programs. Many risks have been mitigated through a combination of education, process improvements, and updates to equipment or supplies—all of which are areas where simulation can have a direct impact.
Simulation centers are often perceived as a financial burden rather than a value-driving resource. As a result, they may face limited funding, reduced utilization, staffing shortages, and inadequate maintenance. To counteract this, data—paired with a strong advocate—can function like revenue. Think of it as cryptocurrency for simulation centers.
Metrics like learner volume, class hours, fair market value of trainings, risk mitigation, and improvements in patient safety can all be capitalized on to demonstrate value.
For example, “notional value”—the fair market cost of delivering the same training externally—can be a powerful tool to justify continued investment. It makes the case: “Yes, simulation is expensive—but without it, the cost would be even greater.” Presenting the number of training hours delivered and the volume of learners supported helps shine a light on the real return simulation brings to the organization.
Effective data storytelling starts with building the story itself. Implementing a data analytics platform is a game changer—especially tools that leverage AI to suggest trends, relationships, and visuals that might not be immediately obvious. Another powerful element? User testimonials. These firsthand accounts go a long way in illustrating the impact your center has on real people.
Equally important is keeping your stakeholders informed. Regular updates on daily operations, process improvements, upcoming programs, and projected revenue reinforce a narrative of continuous growth and innovation. This keeps your audience engaged—and eager to hear more.
Once your story is built, it’s time to amplify it. Don’t be afraid to make your voice heard. Use system-wide communications, weekly emails, year-in-review reports, monthly blogs, social media posts, and hype videos to broadcast your impact.
Like most things in communications, consistency—right to the brink of annoyance—is key. The more frequently your message is shared, the more it sticks.
Simulation centers may not generate traditional revenue—but with the right data, storytelling, and advocacy, their impact becomes impossible to ignore. By showcasing training volume, clinical impact, and cost avoidance, simulation leaders can ensure their centers aren’t just sustained, but championed.
If you haven’t already, start capturing the metrics that matter—and don’t keep them to yourself.