hello everyone and welcome back to Beyond reality the podcast where we explore how cuttingedge Technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence are shaping the future of healthcare I'm your host Brianna hjj and as always I'm joined by my co-host the ever insightful lra Thorne today we have a truly exciting topic how VR is re izing the way Healthcare professionals are trained Leo how are you doing today doing great Briana I'm really looking forward to diving into this discussion because the impact VR is having on Healthcare Training is something everyone in the field should know about absolutely and I think it's something that not only Healthcare professionals but also patients and the general public should be aware of VR is no longer just a tool for entertainment or Niche applications it's genuinely transforming how medical professionals are educated and how they to save lives today we're going to explore how VR is making that possible why it's such a game changer and maybe even get into some real world case studies that showcase its Effectiveness so let's kick things off with the basics Lea we know the traditional Healthcare Training methods like studying from textbooks watching procedure videos and even practicing on mannequins have been Ed for years and for good reason they work but VR is entering the scene in a big way now why do you think VR is becoming a preferred method of training what what advantages does it offer over these tried andrue methods great questions Bri traditional methods are definitely valuable and have shaped generations of healthcare professionals but they have limitations they're typically passive forms of learning you read about a technique maybe watch a video or practice on a mannequin but you're not truly experiencing what it's like in a real life scenario VR changes all that by providing an immersive Interactive Learning environment instead of passively absorbing information the learner is actively participating in medical procedures diagnosis and emergency situation that's such a powerful shift when you think about it it's almost like the difference between watching someone swim and actually jumping in the water yourself VR gives professionals the ability to engage with their loaning in a way that's viseral and immediate and that kind of Hands-On learning is essential in healthcare you can read all the textbooks in the world but when it comes to dealing with a patient's life especially in an emergency there's nothing quite like having been in a similar situation before even if it was virtual exactly and what's really groundbreaking about VR is that it allows for unlimited practice in traditional settings you might only get one shot at a procedure or an emergency scenario in VR you can repeat it over and over until you've mastered it let's say a medical student is learning how to perform a laparoscopic surgery in the real world they may only get to observe or assist a few times before being thrust into the procedure themselves in VR they can practice it 100 times if necessary and that repetition is so key to building confidence and compet Ence especially for new traines I'm reminded of the old adage practice makes perfect but in healthcare it's more like practice makes you prepared if something goes wrong in a real world situation the consequences can be dire VR creates a safe space where trainees can learn from the mistakes without the fear of harming a patient it's that combination of practical skill development and confidence building that really sets VR apart plus it's not just about the technical side being able to practice managing stress in a virtual operating room with alarms going on off and the pressure of a ticking clock is invaluable that brings me to my next question one of the biggest challenges in Healthcare Training is the gap between knowledge and application we've all heard stories about new graduates who excelled in school but struggle when faced with the pressures of real life situations how does VR help bridge that gap between knowing the theory and actually being able to apply it under pressure this is where VR really shines Bri traditional education teaches students what to do in theory but the transition to clinical practice can be overwhelming even the most prepared student can freeze when they're suddenly faced with a critical patient and have to make decisions in a high stakes environment VR helps bridge that Gap by putting Learners in realistic scenarios that require them to apply their knowledge make quick decisions and manage stressful situations in real time it's one thing to understand a medical procedure in a textbook but it's a completely different thing to execute that procedure when there's a patient's life on the line and the room is buzzing with activity I've read about studies that show medical trainees often experience what's called knowledge Decay they know what to do but when faced with a high pressure situation that knowledge can become harder to access V seems like the perfect solution for that because it allows trainees to practice in environments that mimic real world pressure so when they do encounter those situations in real life they're more mentally and emotionally prepared absolutely and the evidence is there to support it for example there was a study conducted at the University of Southern California's kek school of medicine they used VR to train residents for emergency intubation which is a high stakes procedure the residents who trained in VR reported feeling far more confident when they they had to perform the procedure in real life and the reason for that is simple VR allowed them to experience the pressure of the moment over and over again until they were comfortable with their decision-making process that's so impactful Lea the ability to make decisions In the Heat of the Moment is often what separates good Healthcare professionals from great ones and with Thea it seems like we're not only teaching them the how but also the when and why I think that's a critical distinction because real world Healthcare situations are black and white a good clinician has to constantly assess and adjust based on the nuances of the patient and the situation VR gives them the practice they need to make those Split Second decisions with confidence and as you mentioned eario if they make a mistake in the VR simulation they can reflect and try again until they get it right speaking of decision making let's talk a bit more about how VR helps sharpen those critical thinking skills in the medical field clinicians are often faced with scenarios where they need to make rapid life-saving decisions how does VR help professionals develop those quick thinking abilities in healthcare particularly in emergency medicine or surgery decisions often have to be made in seconds VR simulations create these High Press environments where healthc Care Professionals are forced to think quickly and act decisively for example in a VR trauma simulation you might have multiple patients arriving after an accident the trainy has to assess who needs care first what resources are available and make Split Second calls on treatment all while dealing with the stress of alarms and the movement of other team members the more they practice in VR the more their decision-making abilities improve because they're essentially building that muscle memory for critical thinking that's incredible you're talking about the ability to train the brain to make better faster decisions in a way that feels like second nature that reminds me of a study I came across out of Harwood when medical students who use VR for emergency response scenarios perform significantly better in real world assessments they were faster more accurate and felt more in control of the situation it's almost like VR not only helps them master the skills they need but also the mindset they need to approach difficult scenarios and that's priceless in healthcare where even a few seconds can be the difference between life and death exactly and what's even more impressive is that VR can simulate a wide range of scenarios that might be rare in real life but crucial to prepare for for instance dealing with a mass casualty event isn't something you can easily recreate in traditional training settings but in VR you can simulate that environment allowing Healthcare professionals to practice prioritizing care and managing resources under the most extreme conditions that's so important Healthcare professionals don't get to choose the scenarios they walk into they have to be ready for anything and it seems like VR gives them the opportunity to practice those once in a career events before they ever face them in reality being able to simulate rare but critical situations like a mass casualty event or a complex surgical complication provides a level of preparedness that traditional training just can't offer it's like having a tool that allows you to explore every possibility before it ever happens we've been talking a lot about the technical side of things but what about soft skills communication empathy and bedside manual are just as crucial as medical expertise how does VR help with those soft or human aspects of Healthcare Training that's a great Point VR has an incredible ability to not only teach technical skills but also help Healthcare professionals develop their soft skills for example there are VR simulations specifically designed to improve communication between doctors and patients especially in difficult conversations like delivering bad news or discussing end of Life Care these scenarios allow trainees to practice their tone body language and emotional response in a way that feels real but doesn't carry the emotional weight of a real patient interaction I think that's such a vital aspect of healthcare that doesn't always get the attention it deserves being technically proficient is one thing but being able to to connect with patients on a human level is what truly makes a great Healthcare professional I've seen studies where VR simulations that focus on empathy training have been shown to improve how clinicians interact with their patients making them more compassionate and understanding and the impact on patient satisfaction is undeniable it's amazing to think that a technology as advanced as we are can help bring out those very human qualities in healthcare professionals we've covered a lot today everything from improving decision-making skills to empathy training looking ahead Le where do you see VR and Healthcare Training in the next 5 to 10 years the future's bright Bri I see VR becoming a standard part of healthcare education at all levels not only will we see more institutions adopting VR but I think we'll also see more advanced simulations that incorporate AI to create Dynamic scenarios ones that change in real time based on the user's decision we'll also see more specialized training programs especially in fields like neurosurgery or emergency medicine where VR can provide experiences that are hard to replicate in real life that's exciting I can't wait to see how VR continues to transform the way we train Healthcare professionals it feels like we're on the cusp of something really groundbreaking what excites me the most is the potential for VR to become more tailored to individual loaning needs everyone loans differently and the idea that a VR simulation could adapt to a traine strengths and weaknesses in real time as a game Cher it's not just about training more professionals it's about training better professionals and that ultimately leads to better patient care we're witnessing the future of healthcare education and it's incredible to be part of this conversation well that wraps up today's episode of Beyond reality thank you so much Lara for all your insights and for taking us through the fascinating world of VR and Healthcare Training and thank you to our listeners for tuning in if you enjoyed today's episode be sure to subscribe and leave us a review you can follow us on social media for more updates on how VR and AI are shaping the the future of healthcare until next time I'm Brianna hjj and this is beyond reality thanks everyone stay curious and keep exploring new realities