“Scrubs and Suits” – a strategic game of hospital management
22 October 2025
14.00 (UTC) / 15.00 (BST) / 18.00 (UAE)
Presenters
- Dr. Bas Olthof, Newcastle University, UK
- Dr. Rebecca Casey, Newcastle University, UK
- Dr. Rebecca Hancock, Newcastle University, UK
Moderator
Dr. Susan Waller, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Description
“Scrubs and Suits” is an innovative simulation game, marking a first-time collaboration between the Medical and Business Schools at Newcastle University, UK. Designed for interprofessional education, it brings business and medical students together to navigate the complex realities of healthcare management. In its pilot phase, the game challenged students to make ethical decisions balancing patient care with financial and operational demands. Initial feedback showed high engagement and satisfaction. With plans to adapt the game for various healthcare settings and present it at academic events, “Scrubs and Suits” demonstrates strong potential for shaping future healthcare leaders.
Abstract
The simulation game Scrubs and Suits represents an innovative step forward in interprofessional education (IPE), uniting students from Medical School and Business School in a collaborative learning experience. This simulation serves as an engaging and practical tool to explore the complexities of healthcare management. The game is the first of its kind to bridge the gap between clinical and management education by having players take on multidisciplinary roles where they must make decisions involving budget allocation, ethical dilemmas, and patient care within a simulated hospital setting.
Traditionally, IPE focuses on collaboration among clinical disciplines. However, this game introduces an essential yet underrepresented component—management and leadership in healthcare. The pilot session, which involved business students and graduate-entry medical students from Newcastle University, yielded promising results. With a satisfaction rating of 79.4% for the session and 82.5% for the game’s design, the feedback affirmed the game’s relevance and appeal.
The developers are now working on adapting the game for various healthcare environments, including GP practices and pharmacy settings. Plans are in place to showcase Scrubs and Suits at upcoming conferences and a summer event for academic staff, with the aim of refining and expanding its educational impact.
Presenters
Dr. Bas Olthof is a Lecturer in Neurobiology and Head of Graduate Entry Medicine at Newcastle University’s School of Medicine. With a PhD in Auditory Neuroscience, his early work focused on nitric oxide signalling’s role in tinnitus and neurodegenerative disorders.
Bas is a member of the steering group for the Newcastle Centre for Transformative Neuroscience and has spearheaded numerous outreach and public engagement initiatives. As Head of Graduate Entry Medicine, he developed innovative and engaging teaching sessions, including Neuroscience escape rooms and technology-driven interactive neurology clinical reasoning sessions. As a firm believer in interprofessional collaboration, Bas has developed a significantly number of interprofessional education sessions within the medical programme.
“Scrubs and Suits,” a gamified approach to exploring healthcare innovation, represents the latest instalment in his commitment to preparing medical students for the complexities of the professional world. Drawing on his extensive pedagogical experience, Bas designed the game to fosters critical thinking, reflection, and teamwork, enabling students to learn with and from each other. This flexible and adaptable game is a pinnacle of his efforts to bridge the worlds of business and medicine, preparing future healthcare professionals to be accountable and understanding colleagues ready to make well-rounded decisions.
Email: Bas.Olthof@newcastle.ac.uk
Dr. Rebecca Casey is a digital innovation scholar and Lecturer in Information Systems Management at Newcastle University Business School. With a PhD in Information Systems Management and a background in both academia and applied research, she specialises in realising digital value through socio-technical and interdisciplinary methods. Rebecca has led significant research and pedagogical initiatives exploring the role of digital tools in public and private sector transformation, with a particular focus on healthcare and immersive technologies.
She is the recipient of multiple grants, including funding from the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council, and plays a central role in collaborations with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and the PROTO Innovation Hub. A former Director of the full-time MBA and current Director for Student Recruitment, Rebecca is also an experienced project leader and educator with a track record of designing innovative learning experiences.
In “Scrubs and Suits”, a gamified approach to exploring healthcare innovation, Rebecca applies her expertise in digital pedagogy and benefits realisation to engage diverse audiences in understanding system complexities. Her work bridges academia and practice, aiming to co-create actionable insights that support sustainable, user-centred digital transformation in healthcare and beyond.
Email: Rebecca.Casey@newcastle.ac.uk
Dr. Rebecca Hancock is a Lecturer in Interprofessional Education (IPE), and the Director of IPE at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, where she leads initiatives to enhance collaboration across healthcare disciplines. With a background in medicine, she transitioned into medical education, beginning at the medical school before expanding her impact to the wider faculty. Her academic work centres on preparing students for clinical practice through robust IPE. Her current research explores how student perceptions of IPE vary between online and in-person formats, contributing valuable insights to evolving educational models.
Rebecca brings creativity and innovation to her teaching, having designed IPE sessions using diverse modalities—from online platforms and in-person simulations to technology-enhanced case-based activities. In “Scrubs and Suits”, Rebecca draws on her clinical experience to challenge students with ethical dilemmas faced by doctors. The game encourages collaborative decision-making focused on prioritising patient care and navigating resource allocation.
Through her research, teaching, and institutional leadership, Rebecca remains committed to advancing interprofessional education and equipping future healthcare professionals with the skills to thrive in complex, team-based clinical environments.
Email: rebecca.hancock@newcastle.ac.uk