Global Healthcare Simulation Industry News Update December 2023

Each month, HealthySimulation.com provides recaps of all the latest healthcare simulation industry news from around the world. This news includes clinical simulation learning opportunities, funding updates, acquisition information, innovation progress, and more. Together, these industry updates help paint a picture of where the global medical simulation industry is presently and where the industry is headed as the scope of clinical simulation practice expands. In this edition for December 2023, you can read about some of the world’s latest clinical simulation updates on mobile sim training, XR technologies, relevant company acquisitions and launches, patient safety updates, new simulators, sim center openings, and more!

Top 25 Healthcare Simulation Webinars of 2023 : HealthySimulation.com’s LEARN CE/CME Platform hosted numerous healthcare simulation webinars over the past year covering a wide variety of topics. These medical simulation presentations were viewed by thousands of learners across the globe, sharing industry insights and trends. The goal of the HealthySimulation.com LEARN CE/CME platform is to help educate and inform clinical simulation learners around the world to strengthen and expand the industry’s impact on medicine and training. This HealthySimulation.com article highlights the best healthcare simulation webinars of 2022. Want to submit healthcare simulation webinar abstracts to help support the clinical simulation 0community in 2023? Submit an abstract here now!

Most Read Healthcare Simulation Articles of 2023 : In 2023, HealthySimulation.com published hundreds of healthcare simulation articles to help keep simulation educators and learners across the globe informed on the current state of the industry. These clinical simulation articles shared insights, trends, product information, and much more. The ultimate goal is that clinical simulation champions worldwide are able to use this information and strengthen their own understanding of medical simulation, and incorporate what they have learned into their respective clinical simulation programs, curriculums, facilities, etc. This HealthySimulation.com article highlights the top 15 healthcare simulation articles of 2023.

Broadcom Acquires VMware in a $61 Billion Deal : Embarking on a transformative journey, Broadcom has announced the triumphant acquisition of VMware, heralding a watershed moment in the sphere of infrastructure technology. The amalgamation of Broadcom and VMware signifies a formidable coalition, merging Broadcom’s engineering mastery with VMware’s cloud-centric prowess. This potent synergy is poised to revolutionize the paradigm of infrastructure technology, endowing organizations with unparalleled agility and efficiency in navigating the complexities of the digital era.

The NEW mobile training solution from EMS is here! : Education Management Solutions’ Training in Motion® simulation platforms allow you to take your training events anywhere with their compact, but powerful, simulation solutions that adapt to any environment. With an out-of-the-box setup complete within minutes, wireless connectivity, and battery-powered mobility, you’ll be able to effortlessly conduct highly effective training anywhere, removing the tethers to traditional classrooms.

Introducing Varjo XR-4 Series: Meet the Varjo XR-4 Series. Experience a new level of immersion. Varjo’s new generation of headsets connects the world’s most advanced mixed reality technology with the pinnacle of graphical processing power, catering to industrial use cases where highest-level visual fidelity and immersion are critical.

View the LEARN CE/CME Platform Webinar High Quality Healthcare Simulation: How to Get Started to learn more!

HelpMeSee wins NTSA Modeling and Simulation Award : HelpMeSee, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to end global cataract blindness, has received the Modeling & Simulation Award from the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA).”We are honored and grateful to the NTSA for this prestigious award,” said Bonnie An Henderson, M.D., President and CEO of HelpMeSee. “It is gratifying that our simulation, which is an integral component within our cataract training system, is being recognized by the medical education community.”

SIMStation takes the AV Simulation Market to the Next Level with Miami HQ : Miami, 5th December 2023 – SIMStation, a distinguished AV simulation solutions provider, marks a significant milestone in its journey, operating since 2011 with a global presence. The company inaugurates a new Miami headquarters, solidifying its commitment to serving the North American market. The decision to leverage the expertise gathered over the past 12 years to benefit American healthcare represents a momentous step towards enhancing patient safety and medical excellence.

Exciting News for CT Education: ScanLab Launches CT Simulator! : ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 5, 2023 — Today, MRI simulation software leader, ScanLabMR, announced the launch of ScanLabCT, the world’s first online quantitative computerized tomography (CT) simulator. As the first simulator of its kind, ScanLabCT is a breakthrough in CT education and training. Like ScanLabMR, ScanLabCT is designed to help students and technologists safely and efficiently.

VIVE Ultimate Tracker 3+1 Kit : Full-body tracking made easy. Pair with a headset and two controllers1 to simultaneously track 6 points in real time – head, hands, waist, and feet.2 Includes three VIVE Ultimate Trackers and one VIVE Wireless Dongle. Meet the VR tracker for standalone devices. Use a VIVE Wireless Dongle to connect up to 5 trackers1 and effortlessly bring real-world movements into virtual or mixed reality. Unlock a new dimension of movement and freedom. The first all-in-one positional tracker from HTC VIVE uses AI-powered self-tracking to redefine VR experiences.

Virtual reality medical training startup Vantari VR raises $7m : An Australian virtual reality medical training technology is already making an impact in hospitals at home and abroad, but now Vantari is set to further roll out its international expansion thanks to a $7 million pre-Series A raise led by Co:Act Capital. With dual headquarters in Sydney and Seattle, Vantari VR experienced 400 per cent revenue growth in FY23 securing major partnerships including with US-based global imaging certification leader Inteleos, Italian medical training innovator Nume Plus, and UAE-based healthcare products and clinical solutions provider Leader Healthcare.

New AI Simulator at Bossier Parish Community College: Introducing our newest and most advanced medical simulator to date! HAL S5301 will revolutionize the way our students learn and practice essential medical skills. This is not your average simulation mannequin, though. Powered by cutting-edge AI technology, HAL can mimic a wide range of medical scenarios, replicating real-life patient responses and conditions. One of the most remarkable features of this simulator is its adaptability. Our instructors can customize scenarios to match various medical conditions and complexities. By simulating realistic medical emergencies and scenarios, our students will be better prepared to handle critical situations, ensuring the well-being of their future patients. BPCC is the only institution in the state of Louisiana to currently have the S5301 simulator. HAL is located in the nursing simulation lab, which services our RN, LPN, OTA, Paramedic, PTA and respiratory therapy students. Take a look at this short video to see HAL in action.

First Lady Jill Biden visits Cedars-Sinai Sim Center to see research on women’s health : First Lady Jill Biden toured the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center and Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Friday, Dec. 8, as part of the White House’s initiative on women’s health research. She arrived at the Cedars-Sinai media center at 1:50 p.m. and was greeted by, and accompanied on the tour by, 36th District Congressman Ted Lieu and his spouse Betty Lieu; Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Dr. Shlomo Melmed, executive vice president of academic affairs and dean of the medical faculty at Cedars-Sinai; Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center; and Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement — and the former first lady of California.

Supporting your simulation journey with Laerdal Training Support : Get the most out of your simulation training and reach your potential with Laerdal’s services. We recognize your ability to effectively use your simulation equipment has a direct impact on your ability to deliver life-saving training. That’s why Laerdal offers multiple options for accessing educational and technical services that are designed to help you build competency and maintain equipment. We have a professional team dedicated to helping you identify the right blend of services no matter what stage of the simulation journey you’re in, and we’ll support you every step of the way. From digital services to virtual or on-site product training to consultation, we are here to help.

Report: Global State of Patient Safety 2023 : The Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, commissioned by Patient Safety Watch, presents this analysis of the Global State of Patient Safety 2023. Keeping patients safe from avoidable harm should be central to all health systems, and urgent action is needed, leading global health experts warn in a new report. The report, “Global State of Patient Safety 2023” provides valuable insight into the current state of patient safety around the world, through analysis of publicly available data from the last two decades. Produced by the Academic Partner of the WHO Global Patient Safety Collaborative, the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, and commissioned by the charity Patient Safety Watch, the report includes for the first time a user-friendly interactive data dashboard, case studies of patient safety excellence and a ranking of patient safety in OECD countries.

Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizing the Field of Medical Education : Medical education has ventured into a new arena of computer-assisted teaching powered by artificial intelligence (AI). In medical institutions, AI can serve as an intelligent tool facilitating the decision-making process effectively. AI can enhance teaching by assisting in developing new strategies for educators. Similarly, students also benefit from intelligent systems playing the role of competent teachers. Thus, AI-integrated medical education paves new opportunities for advanced teaching and learning experiences and improved outcomes. On the other hand, optical mark recognition and automated scoring are ways AI can also transform into a real-time assessor and evaluator in medical education. This review summarizes the AI tools and their application in medical teaching or learning, assessment, and administrative support. This article can aid medical institutes in planning and implementing AI according to the needs of the educators.

Immersive Healthcare Firm Secures Millions Following Field Success : This week, Vantari VR secured roughly $7 million in a “pre-series” A funding round, which allows the Epic Games-supported immersive healthcare solutions provider to grow its product as the firm spent 2023 expanding into new territories.Vantari VR is experiencing rapid 2023 growth. To support its monumental 2023, Vantari VR secured a significant portion of funding, therefore enabling the firm to continue to expand its roadmap. Co:Act Capital led the Pre-series A funding round with further assistance from Acova Capital, Significant Early Venture Capital, and Sirius Capital.

‘Getting Heads in Headsets’: Exploring Virtual Reality Use in the VA : November 15, 2023 – Virtual reality (VR), though initially relegated to the world of gaming, is increasingly being applied in healthcare. Healthcare research and provider organizations nationwide are actively exploring the use of VR technologies in various aspects of care delivery — and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is one such organization.Evidence backing healthcare-related VR use is growing. From helping patients manage anxiety related to healthcare services to enhancing pain management to clinical staff training, VR can support healthcare delivery in numerous ways.

Nurses Train With Clinical Simulators at Northeastern JC : Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ RISE grant helped fund nursing simulators and a renewable energy certificate at Northeastern Junior College, as well as a renewable energy mobile lab for high school students.(TNS) — A woman 36 weeks pregnant with her first child comes into the emergency room complaining of persistent mild headaches, her condition soon starts to deteriorate with her oxygen level dropping and she suffers an eclamptic seizure. It’s up to the nurses and doctor to save both the woman and her baby.

Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound : Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic examination used in several medical specialties. However, the quality of ultrasound examinations is dependent on mastery of certain skills, which may be difficult and costly to attain in the clinical setting. This study aimed to explore mastery learning for trainees practicing general abdominal ultrasound using a virtual reality simulator and to evaluate the associated cost per student achieving the mastery learning level.

Empowering Non-healthcare Students as Simulation Assistants in the Digital Era of Simulation-Based Healthcare Education: Bridging the Gap : Simulation-based education plays a pivotal role in various high-stakes fields, notably in healthcare, where simulation technicians are crucial for the effective operation of simulation technology. Currently, these roles are often filled by healthcare professionals who transition from patient care, exacerbating shortages in the healthcare workforce. This editorial addresses the current gap by proposing an alternative solution, creating educational pathways for undergraduate students in science and health science programs to become “simulation assistants”. Leveraging their foundational knowledge in biological and physical sciences, research skills, and attributes developed through health sciences programs, these students could support simulation activities while entering an ever-evolving field with copious growth opportunities.

Grant Elevates Training in Graduate Nursing Programs with Telehealth Simulations : This fall, College of Nursing graduate students in the nurse practitioner (NP) programs had the opportunity to learn about and engage in new telehealth technology. Through a second grant awarded by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey (HFNJ), “The Expansion of the Seton Hall University College of Nursing Online Nurse Practitioner Curriculum Using Innovations in Simulation,” students experienced varied patient-care delivery simulations during their immersion experiences at the Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus.

Leveraging technology to enhance learning and skills development : According to the recent NHS Workforce Plan, government investment in education and training is planned to increase by £0.6bn over the next two years and a further £1.8bn, on top of current education and training budgets, within six years.To ensure that this investment is channeled in a productive way and meets the changing education needs of health professionals, we will need to take full advantage of digital and technological innovations as set out in 2019’s Topol Review. One such, patent pending, technological innovation is the VR-AI Medsets® by IELTS Medical.

Better together: utilizing an interprofessional course and escape room to educate healthcare students about opioid use disorder : Students from nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant, dentistry, social work, and medicine programs were recruited to participate in the interprofessional educational activity. The educational experience included seven asynchronous modules and a virtual synchronous escape room. Prior to the educational programming, participants completed a pre-survey that assessed their knowledge and attitudes towards working on an interprofessional team and perceptions of patients with OUD. The asynchronous modules were required in order to participate in the escape room and each module contained its own pre/post quiz to assess student knowledge.

The Use of Escape Room Simulations in Undergraduate Medical Education : Undergraduate medical education is constantly growing and adapting to offer students diverse learning strategies while aiming to improve engagement from students and competency of medical skills. Two changes that have been implemented in recent years include the use of simulation and gamification of teaching experiences. Combining aspects of simulation with gamification has led to the use of escape rooms. Studies into the benefits of using escape rooms demonstrate improved student reactions and retention of content. However, there have been few studies looking at the effectiveness of escape room simulations in medical undergraduate education. Most of the research in this area uses nursing students as participants.

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