ER-VIPE: Virtual Emergency Room Game Strengthens Soft Skills and Teamwork in Medical Education

The Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University has developed ER-VIPE

(Emergency Room – Virtual Interprofessional Education), a virtual simulation

game designed to train medical, nursing, pharmacy, radiologic, and medical

technology students in emergency room teamwork. The game replicates real-life

hospital scenarios, allowing students to practice under time pressure while

improving communication, leadership, and decision-making skills. Supported by

Chulalongkorn’s Second Century Fund, ER-VIPE is built around the

TeamSTEPPS framework, emphasizing leadership, communication, situation

monitoring, and mutual support for patient safety.

Since its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic, ER-VIPE has evolved

through several scenes, including managing respiratory emergencies, cardiac

arrest resuscitation, and overcrowded ER conditions. Each scenario encourages

students from different medical disciplines to collaborate through virtual avatars,

fostering interprofessional understanding and cooperation. Research results

show that participants demonstrate improved teamwork, better communication

tone, and greater confidence in real-life clinical settings.

Beyond medical knowledge, ER-VIPE builds mental resilience by reducing

stress and promoting a growth mindset among trainees. It has been integrated

into undergraduate, postgraduate, and instructor training to expand its benefits

nationwide. The program has already patented three scenarios and is

developing a fourth—focused on elderly accident cases—using AI to assess soft

skills. ER-VIPE stands as a pioneering educational innovation that strengthens

Thailand’s healthcare workforce and enhances patient safety through

collaborative learning.