Simulation Lab: "a Contemporary Medical Essential".

Simulation-based medical education (SBME) and simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) has become well-established in undergraduate and graduate medical, nursing and allied healthcare training programs. Although still in its relative infancy, the use of hi-fidelity simulation to train students in a variety of health-related professions is becoming a foundational cornerstone in program curriculum in the United States and, increasingly, in the international circle. The entire investment return resulting from the inclusion of simulation training labs in healthcare programs has just begun to be realized. The future is bright for this approach to education and healthcare to become an essential tool in the resource education box for colleges, universities, hospitals and research facilities as they serve the mission of training healthcare professionals to meet the growing needs of aging populations.