Simulation-Based Continuing Education in Health Care Social Work: A Case Study of Clinical Training Innovation

Health care social workers practice in a fast-paced, demanding work environment, and do not always have the opportunity to reflect meaningfully on their work or to practice new skills. This article describes an innovative program, the Partnership for Excellence in Social Work Practice in Health Care (“the Partnership”), which provides a professional development opportunity for health care social workers and contributes to the larger mission of providing comprehensive and coordinated care to high-risk populations. The Partnership aims to help social workers respond to the current challenges of health care practice through simulation learning as an educational reflective practice technique. Through this program, social workers at all levels of experience have the opportunity to practice real-world scenarios in a safe and structured space, receive feedback, and reflect on their skills. The Partnership utilizes professional actors who portray patients, doctors, and care partners (formal or informal caregivers) in case examples that explore key issues in the field. This enables learners to be exposed to a representative set of patient experiences, expediting the development of their skills, enhancing their competence, and facilitating the habit of ongoing reflection in practice and in the development of one’s professional identity. Implications of the program for clinical social work practice and directions for future study are discussed.