From Plans to Practice: The Unique Approach of Yellow Brick’s Dress Rehearsal

April 1, 2025

By: Meg Yoho, MSN, RN, ASQ CSSBB

Imagine stepping into a new healthcare environment where everything is meticulously planned, yet the real test lies in how well these plans translate into everyday practice. This is where Yellow Brick’s Dress Rehearsal comes into play. More than just a simulation, it immerses teams in their new spaces, ensuring that every element aligns with planned workflows and operational design.

A key factor behind the event’s success is the customized Dress Rehearsal scenario that our Scenario Development team crafts in close collaboration with each department. We schedule Scenario Review sessions toward the end of workflow planning with Host Departments that will eventually occupy the facility. During these sessions, Yellow Brick transforms a template into a practical tool that guides teams through the simulation on the big day.

Here are some reasons why our approach to scenario review meetings are valuable to everyone involved:

  • Insightful Education: These meetings educate our clients on what a “YB Style” Dress Rehearsal entails. Unlike traditional simulations in healthcare, our Dress Rehearsal Scenario review meetings offer a unique and fresh perspective.
  • Practical Evaluation: These sessions provide an early opportunity for teams to evaluate the new changes they’ve planned and see how implementation unfolds in their department spaces. It’s essentially where the rubber meets the road.
  • Collaborative Learning: They foster collaboration and mutual learning by engaging clinical, ancillary, and support teams, allowing them to gain unique insights into their workflows and challenges.
  • Building Trust: The time and input invested by the teams in the Dress Rehearsal build trust and appreciation. When the scenarios mirror their actual practices, the Dress Rehearsal simulation fuels readiness for Day One. This buy-in is crucial in ensuring that the teams feel confident and prepared for the activation.

Yellow Brick’s Dress Rehearsal is far more than a preparatory exercise. It is a transformative experience that bridges the gap between planning and practice. Through our dynamic scenario development process, our team gains valuable insights and builds a foundation of trust and collaboration with departmental stakeholders to pave the way for success in the new environment.  It’s an exciting journey of learning, adapting, and thriving together.