Purpose: Lack of financial information results in planning difficulties and may delay the introduction of simulator based education. We collected data from an existing simulation centre and describe a construction and operating budget to facilitate planning and construction for interested institutions.
Methods: After obtaining approval from the managing board, the plans and financial statements of the Canadian Simulation Centre, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto were reviewed from the period from July 1994 through June 1996. Costs were calculated from the financial reports and separated into construction and operation phases. A list of the ongoing educational and research activities was compiled.
Results: All dollar figures are expressed in 1996 Canadian Dollars. The planning and construction took place from July 1994 through June 1995. Construction costs for the simulation centre totalled $665,000, of which 85% was related to capital equipment purchases and 15% for salary support. The net costs of ongoing education and research activities (3.35 days/week) were $167,250 from July 1995 through June 1996. About 65% of this consisted of salary support and was absorbed by the existing educational resources of the University of Toronto Department of Anaesthesia.
Conclusion: Substantial resources are required for the construction of a simulation centre ($665,000) primarily use of capital equipment purchases. However, there is also a considerable operating cost per year ($167,250) which consists mostly of salary support.