Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospitalhave teamed up to build VR training modules
Orange County, CA - April 12th 2017 - Already a staple in the consumer market Virtual Reality (VR) simulation has emerged onto the medical field. Although popular in the entertainment sector, hospitals are integrating VR headgear, and assorted technology into medical procedure.
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital have teamed up to build VR training modules to replicate surgical rooms for skills training prior to facing the challenge of live patients. Practice is often time consuming and not always permitted given the circumstances, however these VR replicas negate the issue. With no time constraints or procedural limitations, interns and practitioners can work a myriad of cases and repeat those with poor performance until comfortable. This ensures skill enhancement and a reduction in patient harm when put into practice.
Surgical training programs using VR are working towards a future of error free performance. Johns Hopkins Medicine reported that surgical never-events, mistakes that should never happen, have 4,000 separate occurrences annually. Over a 20-year time span these errors in surgery account for 6.6 percent of deaths, 32.9 percent of permanent injury, and 59.2 percent of temporary injury of patients. Massachusetts General Hospital notes, “Flight training for pilots has long depended on simulation; the medical profession may also benefit given the potential to reduce medical errors and increase patient safety.”
Along the horizon of VR, 3D printing is another technology utilized for surgical preparation. 3D printing is used to print models of human viscera in need of repair so surgeons can practice and discover problem areas before making an initial incision on patients. William Doss, senior writer for TriMed Media Group, points out one large advantage VR has over 3D printing, “When you print an anatomical model, you can’t put it back together after practicing precise cuts and excisions; with a virtual model, you just press reset.” This reset button guarantees less printed waste and quicker training sessions. One other apparent down side to 3D printing is the size and cost of the machines. A single printer can cost upwards of $500,000, while hospitals are already crowded and every suite is essential.
VR can be used for more than just practice. Dr. Vasileios Moustakas, M.D., of Evengelismos Hospital in Athens, Greece, has pioneered the use of VR headsets to read DICOM images on the go. As an alternative to medical grade monitors, the wearer of the headset can view up to 56 downloaded images at any time, all controlled via smartphone. He reports that using this VR system “is like being in front of a 175-inch mega screen while enabling visualization at 360 degrees.”
The potential advantages of VR technology are boundless, however there is much to be done before it is seamlessly integrated into hospitals on a global scale. This type of technological advancement has catapulted modern surgery into the future.
Contact Ampronix:
Email: info@ampronix.com
International Sales: +1 949-273-8000
Domestic Sales: 1800-400-7972 for US and Canada
Follow Us:
Share This Article:
View our Product Catalog Online Here
About Ampronix
Ampronix is a renowned authorized master distributor of the medical industry's top brands as well as a world-class manufacturer of innovative technology. Since 1982, Ampronix has been dedicated to meeting the growing needs of the medical community with its extensive product knowledge, outstanding service, and state-of-the-art repair facility. Ampronix prides itself on its ability to offer tailored, one-stop solutions at a faster and more cost-effective rate than other manufacturers. Ampronix is an ISO & ANSI/ESD certified facility. To learn more go here.
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospitalhave teamed up to build VR training modules Orange County, CA – April 12th 2017 – Already a staple in the consumer market Virtual Reality (VR) simulation has emerged onto the medical field. Although popular in the entertainment sector, hospitals are integrating VR headgear, and assorted technology into medical procedure. […]