Virtual Reality in Healthcare Training

Virtual Reality in healthcare training is a new medical simulation modality which is constantly evolving, but is already a permanently established technology in clinical simulation based education. VR in healthcare training environments allow learners to experience visual stimuli delivered via computer graphics, as well as other sensory experiences usually through a virtual reality headset. Virtual reality in healthcare training and education also extends past head mounted displays (HMDs) or XR headsets.

Virtual reality applications have the ability to make use of external tools such as biometric trackers. These trackers can monitor and make note of any physiological data of either patients or healthcare staff. Other usability features of virtual reality in healthcare include haptic sensors that can create tactile feedback. With the introduction and evolution of AI technology, enhancement of the learners experience in VR education in medicine will only continue to improve and develop further.

There are many benefits of the advancement of VR in healthcare training technology. The main benefit of virtual reality is that the technology allows learners to be able to experience how to perform a number of tasks and procedures in a virtual educational environment. As this experience is within a virtual environment yet does not involve a live patient, this can assist to reduce risk to the patient. With practice in virtual reality in a medical education environment, learners are better prepared to take the next step towards provision of safe and effective clinical care for patients at the bedside.

The demand for virtual reality healthcare simulation has been increased in a number of ways. Firstly, due to a huge increase in technological improvements of virtual reality headsets and also a number of new products available on the market. There is also a large amount of published evidence that virtual reality for the education of medical and nursing staff is an incredibly effective educational tool.

How Virtual Reality in Healthcare Training Able to Simulate the Physical World

The most central aspect of virtual reality technology that makes VR ideal for healthcare learners is the immersive ability of the VR technology. When virtual reality is used in the clinical simulation environment, this allows the learners entire perceptual field to be surrounded. This means that the learner feels psychologically present and also immersed in the digital world rather than in their own physical reality.

Virtual reality in medicine is able to help train the next generation of healthcare professionals. Virtual reality can be used to educate learners on diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy techniques, and more. Virtual reality medical simulation technology allows learners to practice clinical skills without the fear to cause the devastation of clinical errors.

Virtual Reality in medicine provides a virtual experience which enables acquisition of clinical skills through familiarity and also comfort to perform procedures through repetition in a low risk virtual environment. As learners make mistakes, correction can occur in real time and without risk to patients. VR in medical education allows for plenty of practice time so that clinical skills can become more familiar prior to application in clinical scenarios in person. Virtual Reality is a safe and controlled environment for learners.

View the LEARN CE/CME Platform Webinar From Screen to Scene: How UbiSim’s Immersive VR Transforms Nursing Education learn more!

A Number of Key Companies Have Virtual Reality in Healthcare Training Solutions:

Many technology companies have released virtual reality based products or have partnered with healthcare simulation companies to release virtual reality products to the market. Several examples of these are listed below.

SimX : The SimX team seeks to be able to push VR healthcare simulation forward. SimX has developed a software system that was the first comprehensive VR medical simulation system product on the market. SimX was founded in 2013 and the headquarters are in California. The SimX platform allows high cost manikins to be replaced with virtual simulated patients, which is backed by a robust case creation engine.

UbiSim: UbiSim is a company which has been acquired by Labster. UbiSim is a multidisciplinary healthcare simulation company which combines nursing simulation and virtual reality for an immersive learner experience. Ubisim’s goal is to make nursing simulation more affordable, more accessible, and more realistic than ever. UbiSim offers a complete simulation lab on a flexible platform. This allows users to create and experience realistic clinical situations without the need to access physical clinical simulation centers that are often booked months ahead of time.

Oxford Medical Simulation : OMS is a virtual reality platform that delivers quality, evidence-based, and highly realistic virtual simulation. The OMS platform has headquarters in Boston and assists in the efficient and effective education of healthcare staff. The world class VR medical simulation programs provide education in patient management practices to improve patient care.

vrClinicals for Nursing: This solution has been created to provide a unique VR based solution for nursing students which engages a realistic and busy hospital clinical environment. vrClinicals for nursing is a collaboration which has been forged between Laerdal, Wolters Kluwer, and the National League for Nursing. This virtual reality for nursing education has been developed to provide education for nursing students in regards to multiple patient prioritization and clinical judgment and assessment skills.

Healthstream Team Training Solutions: This HealthStream team has developed Team Leader VR which is a VR based educational modality to practice team leader leadership skills. Team Leader VR is a virtual reality simulation experience which covers three adult resuscitation cases that includes multiple arrest pathologies. Currently the cases include: hyperkalemia, ST elevation myocardial infarction and opioid overdose.

Nasco Healthcare: XR Clinic Mobile Virtual Reality Medical Training Solution. This virtual reality education program is a revolutionary way to develop clinical skills with high resolution graphics. Virtual patients are able to answer questions in the VR scenarios. This allows learners to develop clinical diagnostic abilities. There are 200+ medical scenarios in the library and also the ability to create and edit cases. XR Clinic Mobile Virtual Reality Medical Training Solution has the ability for multiple users and has multiple language options available.

PCS Spark : offers AI-driven virtual patient encounters for learners of all healthcare disciplines. These are the only virtual patients that can speak for themselves. Each PCS Spark scenario is a complete virtual persona with personal concerns, health history, and expected discussion topics in a clinical interview.

PrecisionOS : is an innovative surgical orthopedic VR medical simulation software company with headquarters in British Columbia. The healthcare virtual simulation company combines both orthopedic surgeons alongside game developers who are able to work together and are able to enhance expertise of virtual surgical simulation across the globe.

Virtual Medical Coaching : has a virtual reality operation theatre radiation safety simulation scenario. This allows operation theater staff to experience and learn how to keep themselves and others safe in an environment with ionizing radiation. Radiography based VR healthcare simulation scenarios are available too. Additionally a VR childbirth simulation also allows learners to practice the skills necessary to care for women and partners in labor and birth.

Osso VR : The company Osso VR provides a bridge to the surgical training gap. This VR technology was created with a goal to increase adoption of high value medical technology and to democratize global access to the latest surgical techniques.

Fundamental Surgery : This solution is provided by FundamentalVR and offers a software platform that takes advantage of virtual reality surgical software combined with haptics. Three main sections are available which includes Haptics VR, Standalone VR and Collaboration VR. Haptics VR focuses on key sensations in relation to use of equipment in theater environments. Standalone VR is for the practice and run through of surgical procedures. Collaboration VR is a space for industry professionals to connect and network together.

Virtual reality healthcare simulation is an incredibly useful and also expanding technology based educational solution. All areas of healthcare have started to make use of virtual reality in medicine as an educational tool. Healthcare staff now have the ability to practice new procedures and clinical care in a virtual environment prior to patient care in person.

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