That Time When Yanni and Laurel Were in the Sim Lab: How Simulation Decreases Risks

Even though healthcare providers often will provide care to the same patients at the same time, they do not always hear the same thing at the same time. Communication is not always mutually clear and understood among all members of the health care team. Miscommunication can lead to fatal errors. This often is the case when laurel and yanni are in the SIM labs. Laurel and yanni or phonetic sounds that when played on different frequency can be heard/interpreted differently by different listeners. About three years ago a website “vocabulary.com” positioned a vocal string on line that when listened to could be heard saying either laurel or yanni (Heron, 2018). The explanation for which an individual would hear, either laurel or yanni, when the clip was played was explained as being caused by frequency ranges the ears would attend to. There is a point to be made here. People do not hear the same sounds even when they are in the same proximity of that sound. Since people do not hear the same sounds which causes them not to interpret similarly the meaning, then communication may be lost. To this end, communication is a skill to be learned and then practiced and practiced. In health care, honing good communication skills is imperative to function effectively in teams. This is important in healthcare; communication errors can be fatal. For this reason, due diligence is given to the unacceptable reality that medical error is the number three cause of death in the United States (Allen & Pierce 2916). It cannot be argued that simulation in the context of drill and practice of communication skills to the immersion in evidence based simulation scenarios is a known method of avoiding unnecessary risks in delivery of patient care. Then, simulation renders the health care profession safer on a global and local scale. Safety is first, and safe practices save lives. Simulation on any level reduces risks thereby reducing error and ultimately saving lives. Learning in safe spaces, reducing risks that impact the life of the patient is a focus of simulation in health care. Communication is the impetus of an effective evidence based simulation.