Air Medical Simulation Training: A Retrospective Review of Cost and Effectiveness

•High-fidelity simulation training is becoming the standard in the field of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS).•The success of high-fidelity simulation training has been based on subjective trainee feedback.•Objective outcome measures have not been studied with regard to high-fidelity simulation training of HEMS personnel.•HealthNet Aeromedical Services offers a flight academy with a unique curriculum that allowed us to study the effects of a high-fidelity simulator. Simulation training is an integral part of the training of medical personnel. However, there are limited data on the use of simulation in the training of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). In this study, we retrospectively compared the number of orientation flights needed to be released to a full crewmember and the cost of training in an air medical flight academy before and after implementation of a high-fidelity air medical simulator. A total of 13 participants in the air medical services flight academy were analyzed. Four of these participants went through the standard academy. Nine participants went through the standard academy but had additional training using the simulator. There was no statistical difference in the number of orientation flights before release from training (P = .35). Also, although there was a trend that the simulator decreased the overall cost of training, there was no significant difference between the groups (P = .16). This study found that the use of a high-fidelity simulator when training HEMS personnel does not significantly reduce the number of orientation flights needed to become a full crewmember. There was a trend toward a significant reduction in the total cost of training.