The VRR
About
The Virtual Resus Room was created in May 2020 by Dr. Sarah Foohey. For Sarah, simulation during her fellowship year was the most important and impactful element of her training. When the COVID pandemic prevented simulation training for the University of Toronto CCFP-EM residents, Sarah scoured the internet for a free, easy-to-use virtual alternate that could replace these valuable sessions. After finding no adequate simulation substitutes online, she decided to create her own. Since then, the VRR has been used by educators around the world to offer high quality online simulation education sessions. The VRR is an award-winning open-access project founded on a simple belief: online simulation should be accessible, high yield, and fun.
The VRR started out as an informal project for 7 residents in Toronto. It grew with the help of some fantastic educators who acted as peer reviewers, early adopters, and champions. Thank you especially to: Dr. Paul Koblic, Dr. Teresa Chan, Dr. Alim Nagji, Dr. Virginia Brown, Dr. Allison Yantzi, Dr. Chelsea Hall, Dr. Alex Alferis, Dr. Zainab Najarali, and Dr. Marlee Klaiman for their ideas and feedback during the early stages of the VRR development. Thank you to Dr. James Leung, Dr. Jabeen Fayyaz, Dr. Marc Auerbach, Dr. Dennis Ren, Dr. Pavan Zaveri, Dr. Sam Zhao, Dr. Brian Lee for being pediatric champions for the project. Thank you to EMSimCases, EMCases, and Simulation Canada for providing a platform to share the VRR during its early months.
Publications
Foohey, Sarah MD, CCFP-EM1; Nagji, Alim BHSc, MD, CCFP-EM2; Yilmaz, Yusuf PhD3; Sibbald, Matthew MD, PhD4; Monteiro, Sandra PhD5; Chan, Teresa M. MD, MHPE6. Developing the Virtual Resus Room: Fidelity, Usability, Acceptability, and Applicability of a Virtual Simulation for Teaching and Learning. Academic Medicine 97(5):p 679-683, May 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004364
Leung JS, Foohey S, Burns R, Bank I, Nemeth J, Sanseau E, Auerbach M. Implementation of a North American pediatric emergency medicine simulation curriculum using the virtual resuscitation room. AEM Educ Train. 2023 May 19;7(3):e10868. doi: 10.1002/aet2.10868. PMID: 37215281; PMCID: PMC10199309.
Azim A, Kocaqi E, Wojkowski S, Uzelli-Yilmaz D, Foohey S, Sibbald M. Building a theoretical model for virtual interprofessional education. Med Educ. 2022 Nov;56(11):1105-1113. doi: 10.1111/medu.14867. Epub 2022 Jul 14. PMID: 35789027.
Maloney CE, Burns R, Hartford E, von Saint Andre-von Arnim A, Foohey S, Kailemia M, Reel B, Thomas A. International Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Fellow Education: Utilizing Virtual Resuscitation Simulation in Settings With Differing Resources. Cureus. 2022 Feb 7;14(2):e21991. doi: 10.7759/cureus.21991. PMID: 35282505; PMCID: PMC8906565.
Global Use
University of Toronto, Canada
McMaster University, Canada
Queen's University, Canada
University of British Columbia, Canada
University of Calgary, Canada
McGill University, Canada
Memorial University, Canada
Yale University, USA
Children's National University, USA
John Hopkin's University, USA
Children's Hospital of Philidelphia, USA
Multicare Health System, USA
Allina Health, USA
UC Davis, USA
Mayo Clinic EM Residency, USA
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, USA
National University of the North East, Argentina
University College Dublin, Ireland
Royal Berkshire Hospital, United Kingdom
Catarina Hospital
Indus University of Health Sciences, Pakistan
Makerere University, Uganda
PediSTARS (Pediatric Simulation Training and Research Society of India)
PECC-Kenya Fellowship
Royal Children's Hospital, Australia
Get in Touch
Please reach out if you have any questions, feedback, or cases to share.
@SarahFoohey
*Disclaimer
These virtual sim resources are intended to be used as a teaching tool. You are not to use this information as medical advice to treat yourself or others. The information is not intended to be used to establish "standard of care" in a legal sense. Of course, I make every effort to ensure high quality materials, but no guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any content.