The Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research (WISER) has been granted accreditation in the areas of Teaching, Assessment, Research and Systems Integration from the Society for Simulation (SSH) in Healthcare Council for Simulation Program Accreditation. WISER is the second ever simulation program in the world to achieve recognition in all four accreditation focus areas offered by the SSH program. WISER is the human patient simulation program that serves the education needs of the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Health Sciences and UPMC.
WISER focuses on innovations in healthcare education and research through the incorporation of simulation technology. WISER conducts over one hundred different training programs, many of which with a focus on patient safety. Teaching faculty include physicians, nurses and numerous other healthcare teaching professionals who partner with WISER staff members who have expertise in Simulation based education technologies and curriculum development processes. Participants of WISER programs range from medical, nursing and pharmacy students, through experienced practicing professionals such and physicians, nurses and paramedics.
The SSH accreditation process is a rigorous evaluation that ensures simulation programs are in compliance with or exceeding established best practice standards for simulation center administration, operations, curriculum development, teaching, quality assurance/improvement, governance, patient safety engagement, assessment, and education research standards. The nearly yearlong endeavor included a comprehensive submission package in excess of 2,000 pages, as well as a site visit from reviewers that occurred in early November.
WISER began as a patient safety effort in 1994 focused on operating room safety, and has matured to be a world leader in the implementation of healthcare simulation training, assessment and education research efforts. WISER conducts simulation based faculty development programs throughout the world.