This is the first ever episode; "On the road again!" On the way to Nebraska for SimGHOSTS. Thankful to our sponsor SimVS.

Deb and Jerrod are interviewed by Shelly and they talk about the upcoming conference and what they hope to learn. 

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Transcript

Disclaimer: 0:00

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of anyone at Innovative Sim Solutions or our sponsors.

Sim VS Ad: 0:13

Thanks to Sim VS for sponsoring this week's episode. Simulation helps develop the mindset of patient safety by allowing learners to practice and fail in a safe environment. Sim VS designs tools that contribute to the development of this mindset. We are excited to release our new four pump simulator practice primes proficiency. To learn more, visit www.simvs.com.

Intro: 0:41

Welcome to The Sim Cafe , a podcast produced by the team at Innovative Sim Solutions, edited by Shelly Houser. Join our host, Deb Tauber and co-host Jerrod Jeffries as they sit down with subject matter experts from across the globe to reimagine clinical education and the use of simulation. So pour yourself a cup of relaxation, sit back, tune in, and learn something new from The Sim Cafe .

Shelly: 1:21

Welcome to the Sim Cafe. My name is Shelly Houser and I am the editor and producer of The Sim Cafe . And this week we thought we would try something different. Deb Tauber, the host of The Sim Cafe and her co-host Jerrod Jeffries , are actually in the car on their way to Sim Ghost 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska. And we've decided that I was going to take the sim cafe hostage this week and interview the two of them. So Deb and Jerrod, welcome as guests of The Sim Cafe this week.

Deb: 1:56

Thanks, Shelly . Thank you very much. <laugh>.

Shelly: 1:59

So how is the road trip going so far, guys?

Deb: 2:02

Pretty Good.

Jerrod: 2:03

We we're, it's seven hours from Chicago to Omaha, and we're about halfway in , uh, looking here. We have only just under 300 miles left on this one road, so we're, we're, we're trucking along here. Okay. And, and Deb, excellent. Co-host, Def Excellent, excellent co-pilot as well. So we're just moving.

Shelly: 2:25

And you guys, you guys thought this was a genius idea to do this, huh?

Deb: 2:30

<laugh> ? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Jerrod's coming in all the way from Denmark. Yes . And so it just seemed with all that travel, that it would be a great way to connect and the logistics of it seemed Right.

Jerrod: 2:45

Okay . And now, now you're really helping us kill some time here too, so we really appreciate this <laugh>. Right,

Shelly: 2:50

Right . Well, I I, we just, the three of us talked about it and we really wanted to flip the microphone around and get all of our listeners to see the backside of what it is that you guys do and the process of The Sim Cafe and the process of your mindsets of what you do to get this, this podcast out every single week. So, you know , and then kudos to you because it's a really big commitment to do this every single week. So in short, you know, are you crazy <laugh> because you guys have been doing it, what, Deb? Almost three years in total. And we started out once a month for like three months, and then you just hit the ground running for a week. And my thought was, you're never gonna have enough guests to do this every single week. And it's been nonstop.

Deb: 3:44

Well, you've been the commitment too though , Shelly. So you hit a <laugh> . Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, yeah. And now this on the road again, trip , uh, was the idea of, once again, Greg Vis <laugh>

Shelly: 4:00

<laugh> . Thanks Greg <laugh> .

Jerrod: 4:03

And , and we've , we've been called a lot worse things than crazy or mad. But, you know, at the same time, I think something with Sim Ghosts and the having the foundation of how all these simulation labs and from, from nursing schools to medical schools to interprofessional to, you know, if that's a different type of group, these are the individuals that really make sure everything is turning and moving and pushing forward. And I think getting the, getting to spend time with them is, is pretty spectacular. But also understanding that there is a , a type of center such as , uh, INASCL, which is gonna be held in Amal , which I , I think is the, the most expensive, or, you know, newest, one of the newest simulation centers in, in the country, or if not the world or something. It's , it's a hundred plus million , uh, holographic booth. Um, what , what else is there? There's these walls that are just completely interactive and I think a television screen, the size of half a football field or something, it , it's just some spectacular things that you can, you can't really wrap your head around until you see it .

Shelly: 5:07

That's amazing. It's amazing. So why do you guys keep the podcast going? What motivates you to keep doing what you're doing every single week?

Deb: 5:19

Well, we get a lot of good feedback from the podcasts. And the podcasts provide an opportunity for the listeners to just get a bite-size bit of simulation information. And I think with information being so available all the time now, it, I look forward to it. I look forward to learning something from the guests every week. And, and Jared has just been a phenomenal co-host to take on the, on the journey, just like , uh, on the road trip.

Jerrod: 5:50

<laugh>. Thank you. Well, Deb, you did bring snacks. So you , you you got a plus one in my book there.

Shelly: 5:56

<laugh>

Jerrod: 5:56

Got good snack . I think, I think , I think Shelly, like for us, there's, what we see, or what I've seen personally is that there's all, so many people are siloed in this industry. And when it comes to right technicians, 'cause we're heading some ghosts, but in so many different occupations within the simulation spectrum, you have so many people that feel like they're alone. And I think what, what Deb and I have found is that people are able to connect with each other by listening to say, oh, that was this guest, or that guest. And , and they realize that they do have , share something in common and , and have someone to reach out to. I think that's usually through LinkedIn. But, you know, we do share their contact information in show notes. So there's just some connections that are being made , uh, which is, which is pretty special. But also the collaboration that we have around simulation, when you can see that someone can pick up elsewhere and, and , and keep pushing things forward, that's always , uh, pretty powerful for what we're able to contribute to.

Shelly: 6:49

And I think having Jerrod as an addition just added a different layer. He comes from a different background, he is got a different voice, a different perspective, and it just made the podcast from my perspective as the editor, you know, behind the mic, just richer the conversations richer and fuller because it adds just so much more to it. So, you know, I I like having Jerrod's perspective in there, in the mix for the whole thing.

Jerrod: 7:17

Thank you Shelly. Yeah. And in a decade, kind of in the industry with Laerdal and then over to Walter Klu certainly brings different takes, but you know, it's, it does take away the village with the educational side and then even again, back to the technologists and you , you have, you realize how many people's, what is the saying, go fingers in the pie that, that are mm-hmm . <affirmative> that are actually contributing. It just takes a whole village to really build something like this. And, you know, when , when we're a media or marketing side, whatever it may be, you know, when , when people have a place to find it, find their little slice of home for 20, 30 minutes every week, I think that's, that's great that we can contribute to that as well as the other, you know, select few , uh, healthcare simulation podcasts.

Deb: 7:59

Yeah.

Shelly: 8:00

So what's your favorite parts of the podcast? Is it the process? Is it the research? Is it the final product that we put out every week?

Deb: 8:11

Well, for me it's kind of the all of it. It's the seeking out the guests. And some of the guests have asked if they could be a guest. And, and sometimes, sometimes when I reach out to them , they're just so happy that we asked 'em . And it's, it's exciting to me. So that's part of it. And then the actual listening in on their stories mm-hmm . <affirmative> because you just can't expect what they're gonna say. Mm-hmm . <affirmative> .

Jerrod: 8:41

Yeah. Well, I , I can't take yours. That was, that was gonna be mine, Deb, but <laugh> <laugh> , uh, no. So I think, I think mine would be, if I , if I can't duplicate, would be the ability to almost go up with, with some form of confidence to anybody within healthcare simulation and say, Hey, do you wanna be on the pod? And the reason we'll do that is because we're getting, I mean, we just, we just got an email from, from our center was , it was almost 5,000 downloads last week. Yeah . And so when you're getting right, these numbers and , and people within the industry are able to really connect with those in the industry. And , and I , I remember we were doing 10,000 a month or something, so we're, we just continued to increase that number over, over time. So month after month you see all this growth and people want to be heard and people want to have a voice. Yeah . And I think when we're building that community that specifically for them, we're then able to then say, Hey, do you want to come on the podcast? We have all these people that are wanting to listen to you. I mean, Deb and I just, you know, and you, Shelly of course help facilitate in , in all sorts of different ways, but they really come for their guests. And, and we just have stellar ones that continue to breadth. And the width and the depth of everything is, is just exquisite.

Shelly: 9:53

That's one thing that shocks me is they don't come from the same path into simulation. They come from so many different backgrounds, whether it's theater or working for Tom Hanks or working as an em E M T, or you know, more from a religious angle. You know, they come from so many different pathways and so many different backgrounds and from across the planet, literally. Mm-hmm . <affirmative> . And I'm often surprised when one of you said, oh, the guest doesn't really think they did a good job. Or they're, they're so nervous they didn't think they would , they're gonna be a really great guest. And I edit them and they're such high quality and they have such great information and they have such great energy that they bring to it. And by the time we're done editing just the same as any other guest, they sound just as fantastic. And they have phenomenal stories that are just as interesting as everybody else. And it's phenomenal. And their numbers hit just as good as everybody else. And, and it's wonderful. And so I think that anybody that doubts that they're gonna be a great guest, they shouldn't because Yeah . I don't think we've had one bad guest yet. They've all been just wonderful to edit and listen to. I mean, I sit and edit the podcast for a couple of hours and I have to listen over and over and over again. And I've, you know, <laugh> , they've all been wonderful and I've all , I've learned a lot from each and every one of them, just from my perspective.

Deb: 11:23

Thanks Shelly. And I think this conference, we're gonna meet some new guests. This is the first time that I've ever been to the SimGhosts conference. And so it's pretty exciting 'cause we're gonna meet even more new people that we can possibly have on the show.

Shelly: 11:38

That's exciting. Yeah . Exciting. What do you think you're gonna learn or hope to learn and accomplish most at SimGHOSTS 23?

Jerrod: 11:46

Well, for me, this is the first time a large group in the US is gonna be using the Beaker Health platform. So that's the crowdsourcing, user generated education. And so SimGHOSTS will get all this data from all the users and members and conference attendees that are, that are gonna be using the platform. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> . And we already have a , a bunch of different presentations that are up there. So people, if they're attending different session, they can view it later at the airport or whatever else since. So they don't feel like they missed this. So specifically, I'm looking forward to talking to those presenters, understanding how we continue building to make sure that we're fitting and, and really satisfying the needs from that of the SimGHOSTS board and all that. The president who we've been working closely with, but also that of the members to make sure that we're listening and facilitating the, the data capture they want as the educator. The presenter too .

Shelly: 12:38

What are your goals, Deb?

Deb: 12:40

Oh , my goals are just to learn more about the sim the SimGHOSTS to learn more about technology. I'd say in my , uh, expertise, the technology portion, and I'm positive that Jerrod and Farooz would , uh, agree with me is the <laugh> one of my weakest areas. <laugh> ,

Jerrod: 12:59

You had very strong suits, Deb, but technology would not fall in in those many times. <laugh> ,

Shelly: 13:08

I have to learn something technic sales.

Deb: 13:10

<laugh> .

Shelly: 13:12

Yeah . Yeah. So in the field of simulation, what do you guys think that you contribute most to simulation with this podcast?

Jerrod: 13:22

You know, when you look forward to the future of simulation and what we're contributing to, again, this, this plays into the podcast as well as Beaker Health, but it's that of collaboration. It's that of connecting like-minded individuals. It's that of not having people start from square one. So around the world, around different simulation centers, everybody's trying to reinvent the wheel when it's already been created 75 or 80% of the way. And what you need to do is then take up where people have succeeded, where people have failed and able to pick that up and say, this is where we're able to connect and actually keep going. And that's a beautiful thing about these conferences, is you're able to see those connections, collaborations, and the engagement that happens. And so how we're contributing is we're able to start saying, these are people that are already in your same area. These are people that are actually needing help. You know, there , there's again, it takes a village as we have with the three of us, but all the guests that come on the pod too . And so when it comes to the listeners that do partake and then connect with the different guests or the speakers that are on the pod, is, is always pretty special to me.

Shelly: 14:29

Great . Deb, you have any thoughts about that?

Deb: 14:32

I am really excited about heading out to Nebraska, to Omaha. And I think that, I feel like I'm gonna echo Jerrod's thoughts,

Shelly: 14:41

Just seeing our numbers grow in leaps and bounds. I think it offers something that's just not done the same way as other medical simulation podcasts. I mean, there are some really great podcasts about medical simulation and the medical field out there from some other fantastic nurses and medical stimulus , but they're just done in a different way. And they should be just, every host has a different perspective, but we do it our way and it works for our listeners. And I don't know, I'm grateful for the ones that you have and how it's grown for you guys.

Jerrod: 15:19

Well, for us, Shelly, 'cause I think the three of us, right? We try to look at data, we try to get feedback and say, what do you like? What don't you like? And , and we're trying different things and trying to form some form of consistency. But then it's also, here's a little experiment. Okay, that didn't really work. We didn't get a good update on that. So then we tried something else. And I think now it's like we are, I don't wanna say set, we're far from, we never are, but we're trying different things and , and we keep holding onto what works versus what doesn't.

Shelly: 15:46

Yeah, a absolutely. I absolutely agree on that. So , uh, last question. What do you see as the biggest barriers to simulation innovation or adoption these days post covid?

Jerrod: 15:58

From my perspective, I mean, I mean I touched upon the collaboration piece, but maybe even more service level as that it's funding and the policy aspect I think is what a lot of people would touch upon. And I , and I think that's the voice that I've been hearing the most. But I am the Sim geek, so I'll throw myself in the SimGHOSTS category. But you get to more funding, you get to better policy due to presenting data. And so organizations need to collect and then present data. And that needs to be shown to a five-year-old who can understand what's going on. And if organizations, that could be a professional association organization that could be an academic institution, that could be a plethora of different institutions or organizations. They need to be able to say, this is what we do. This is how much people are looking at us, watching us counting on us. And I think that's where a lot of other industries have been collecting. And then packaging and presenting. And I'm not even talking about to lobbyists. I'm just talking about an overall , uh, since to , to their board and , and saying, this is what we need because this is how much, how many eyeballs we have on us. And I think then it goes from the data to the policy to the funding or probably funding the policy. So that, that's my piece is, is the barriers looking forward and then working backwards.

Deb: 17:16

I completely agree with that. And I would also have to add, and I think that there can be some resistance to people who continue to wanna do things the way that they've always done them. Unfortunately, when I hear that, it always sinks my heart a little bit. But I do think that that's one of the barriers that people have just gotten used to death by PowerPoint and wanna continue it when there's just so many new and innovative ways to, to learn in healthcare and we're, we're really gonna need to adapt . I think the pandemic created a great opportunity to recognize that there are a lot more ways out there to learn.

Shelly: 18:02

Yeah. And having my own disability, I, I see that gap that that's just not being done in medical simulation. It's like a whole field that they're just not talking about and telling somebody. Well, that's just the way it's always been done. It's probably from , and you're shaking your head, it's like the worst advice you could give somebody. And Jerrod, I think you said one time that it's, it's fear-based, you know, it's easier just to stay with a status quo. It's cheaper, it's easier, you just put your head down and you keep going, but it doesn't work. You get stuck there.

Jerrod: 18:37

Yeah. And I think the default for many organizations is they, they allow or they have fear drive their decision instead of data. Yeah. And, and that's just a human emotion. And that's back to Deb saying that's the way we've always done it. And it's like doing nothing is based on fear and it's like doing nothing. A decision is never permanent. You can always reverse it. And so, but if you don't try it or you don't say, Hey, let's give it a shot, you're gonna be stuck with the same , I'm busy. We don't have time, I'm busy, we don't have Well, because you're not doing something different. You don't do something different because it's usually driven by fear.

Shelly: 19:12

Yeah. And I think in this day and age, post covid, you have to try something new. I mean, how many businesses failed a hundred percent in Covid because they didn't try takeout orders. You know, there were some restaurants that just refused to do takeout and complained that they didn't have any business. Well, you didn't try anything new.

Jerrod: 19:33

Also, Shelly, that's a great example. And even, I mean now I, I don't know what year this was, eight or nineties, I remember gas stations, they, they made all their money by people buying, you know, the , the snack and the drink inside their convenience store inside. And then all these gas stations didn't want to implement credit card readers on the gas pump. And so no one was then stopping for gas 'cause they didn't have a gas credit card reader. But the owner of the gas station was like, no, no, no, we can't put a credit card review because they have to come inside. And so it , it's funny that it's just like you're gonna have some that flip to your takeaway order analogy, it's just like you've gotta adapt to the times. So .

Shelly: 20:09

Yep . Absolutely. Absolutely. So well guys, I thank you so much for your time and stay focused on the road, Deb, keep feeding him snacks. So he is full of energy, <laugh> <laugh> , and uh , it's good. Safe travels and keep us in touch with how Simos 2023 goes out in Omaha, Nebraska. And I hear it's sold out this year.

Jerrod: 20:33

Oh, It is ? Yeah. Yep . Yep . That's a lot . Couple weeks. And we're, we're just excited to be a part of the journey and, and make sure that everybody's coming along for the ride.

Shelly: 20:42

You know , it's gonna feel good to have everybody back in person again , um, with SimGHOSTS So safe travels. Thanks for letting me take the microphone and until we talk again, happy simulating.

Deb: 20:55

Thank you. Thanks for all you do, Shelly

Sim VS Tag: 21:00

Thanks again to Sim VS. For sponsoring this week's episode. Check out SimVS .com to learn more about their new four pump simulator.

Outro: 21:17

Thanks for joining us here at The Sim Cafe . We hope you enjoyed. Visit us at www.innovativesimsolutions.com and be sure to hit that like and subscribe button so you never miss an episode. Innovative Sim Solutions is your one stop shop for your simulation. Needs a turnkey solution.