Simulation in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Programs.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the use of simulation in neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM) fellowship programs. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional survey of program directors (PDs) and simulation educators in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited NPM fellowship programs. RESULTS: Responses were received from 59 PDs and 52 simulation educators, representing 60% of accredited programs. Of responding programs, 97% used simulation, which most commonly included neonatal resuscitation (94%) and procedural skills (94%) training. The time and scope of simulation use varied significantly. The majority of fellows (51%) received ≤20 hours of simulation during training. The majority of PDs (63%) wanted fellows to receive >20 hours of simulation. Barriers to simulation included lack of faculty time, experience, funding, and curriculum. CONCLUSION: While the majority of fellowship programs use simulation, the time and scope of fellow exposure to simulation experiences are limited. The creation of a standardized simulation curriculum may address identified barriers to simulation.