Introduction to Blended Reality Simulation
The development of blended reality simulation technology is making waves within the healthcare industry, particularly in the sphere of nursing. This modern approach to training is being led by a team of researchers, including Travis McCann, Joe Albertario, and Bobby Berry, who’re working together to create a more accessible and inexpensive technique to train nursing professionals.
The Problem with Current Simulation Technology
Not everyone has access to the pricey equipment present in state-of-the-art simulation spaces, resembling those at Yale School of Nursing (YSN). For example, a life-size, high-fidelity mannequin that may breathe, bleed, and talk can cost upwards of $100,000, and a high-tech augmented reality (AR) headset can retail for about $3,000. This cost barrier limits the provision of those resources to many healthcare providers.
A More Affordable Solution
However, the blended technology being developed by McCann, Albertario, and Berry is portable and far more cost-effective. A small kit consisting of a CPR chest dummy, a straightforward virtual reality (VR) viewer, and a used smartphone is all that is required. This equipment just isn’t only budget-friendly but in addition compact, fitting right into a backpack and simply stowed in an airplane’s overhead bin.
Praise from Yale Leadership
The team’s modern approach to simulation technology has caught the eye of Yale leadership. Dean Ann Kurth praised the team’s efforts, saying, "Travis, Joe, and Bobby have done a terrific job connecting with resources across all of Yale, and that is the form of solution-driven innovation that may end up from those partnerships." Dean Kurth also highlighted the potential of this technology to enhance healthcare delivery, particularly in distant communities.
The Potential Impact
The application of blended reality simulation has the potential to revolutionize healthcare training. By providing portable, low-cost equipment, healthcare providers can master quite a lot of patient scenarios, leading to raised healthcare delivery. This technology can even make even probably the most distant communities accessible for improvements in training and clinical care.
What’s Next
The team is exploring possibilities with experts at Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Management and investigating how best to measure empathy in providers before and after using the app. Once data is collected and evidence shows that virtual training improves outcomes, creating latest virtual reality simulations for all nursing competencies could vastly improve the standard of patient care.
Conclusion
The development of blended reality simulation technology is an exciting innovation in the sphere of healthcare. With its potential to offer accessible and inexpensive training to healthcare providers, this technology could have a major impact on the standard of patient care. As the team continues to work on this project, it should be interesting to see how this technology evolves and the impact it has on the healthcare industry.
