Tabletop sim sparks new perspective on mental health, developmental disability health care challenges

When members of Leadership Alabama visited UAB Medicine on May 15, they didn’t just hear about the challenges facing health care in the state—they experienced them firsthand.

As part of a full day of programming, UAB Clinical Simulation facilitated a Mental Health & Developmental Disability tabletop simulation. Hosted in UAB Hospital’s Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center, the experience placed participants in the roles of health care providers and administrators navigating real-world dilemmas related to access, capacity and care coordination.

Developed with experts and executive-level leaders within the UAB system, along with collaborative contributions from the Center for Patient Flow, Care Transitions, the Center for Psychiatric Medicine and the University of Alabama system leadership, the exercise aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of what it takes to deliver the right care in the right place, particularly for individuals with complex mental health or developmental conditions, explained April Belle, UAB Clinical Simulation’s director of systems simulation.

But it wasn’t just about operational logistics. It was about building empathy.

“We believe that there is no better experience than being able to simulate a difficult or conflicting situation in a safe and controlled environment,” said Alison Garretson, vice president of Care Continuum & Care Transitions at UAB Medicine.

“In doing so, the learner is able to dive into the situation without concern of the risk of errors and can receive immediate feedback on the outcomes. The learner is able to share their experience and knowledge but also sense the emotion and stress that these situations can evoke. They are able to share with other leaders to determine the best next action step and learn together without risking harm to a patient or population.”

The simulation was part of a broader visit from Leadership Alabama, a statewide program that connects established leaders from business, government, education and nonprofit sectors. Many attendees, organizers noted, came from outside the health care field, making the simulation a uniquely effective learning tool.

“Most Leadership Alabama participants come from industries outside of health care,” said Nate Horsley, senior health care policy advisor for the University of Alabama System. “Rather than simply hearing about the challenges facing hospitals in a presentation, the simulation provides a firsthand experience. Participants walk away truly understanding the impact on UAB’s patients and workforce. This deeper understanding empowers participants to take an active role in solving these challenges.”

For Garretson, the value extended beyond systems awareness; it also served as a platform for statewide bridge-building.

“I hope the participants gained insight on the challenges faced by hospitals around the state as it relates to access and service availability,” she said. “In doing so, they gained perspective and a sense of ‘positive intent’ that they can share with their stakeholders … to open doors to more solution building and issue resolution across the state.”

To learn more about Leadership Alabama, visit here. To find out how simulation can work for you, visit uabsimulation.org or email simulation@uabmc.edu.

UAB Medicine’s Clinical Simulation program offers opportunities for individuals and teams across UAB Medicine and beyond to practice before they deliver care. We encourage all who provide and support patient care to “Sim First.” Together, we can put our patients’ safety first.