HealthStream has recently announced the launch of a revolutionary virtual reality (VR)-based pilot program via the HealthStream Resuscitation Innovation Lab. It is a one-of-a-kind educational program that stresses on enhancing the leadership skills of team leaders for enhancing resuscitation results.
HealthStream made an announcement stating that Community Health Systems, Inc. affiliate CHSPSC, LLC (CHS), one of the largest governing bodies for acute care centers, is launching the VR-based educational pilot program through its Lab. CHS, which is also a founding partner of the HealthStream Resuscitation Innovation Lab, will contribute to the progress of innovation and knowledge in the domain of resuscitation science. It will result in far-reaching benefits for the healthcare industry and patients.
Code blue medical emergencies indicating cardiac arrests can occur anytime and anywhere within a hospital environment. Such situations promo it the nurses and doctors present to swiftly create resuscitation teams to provide instant resuscitation processes saving lives. How many people form such a team, and what role each of them would play in the resuscitation process is decided on the spot, in real-time. Team formation and clinical decision-making are assigned to the leader of the team, making his or her role one of the most crucial. The latest VR-based educational pilot lays stress on the all-important aspect of resuscitation training, focusing on enhancing leadership capabilities of clinical leaders during code blue emergencies.
Realistic training can have a more pronounced positive impact on the improvement of clinical leadership. Based on the Journal of Medical Internet Research (2019), training with a virtual reality-based approach generates better outcomes in terms of skill development and knowledge gathering, as compared to conventional offline or online educational modes. The HealthStream Resuscitation Innovation Lab at CHS will be equipped with VR headsets for participants. The pilot program is in room-scale and requires space for participants to perform physical movements. They will essentially be replicating real-world movements, owing to the VR training feature being developed using the same technology as commercial VR game entertainment features and games.
The VR training system currently has three resuscitation cases, along with a VR tutorial. Putting on the headset, a participant will be face-to-face with cardiac arrest presents, and proceed to instruct the virtual team on how to perform resuscitation. The program guides participants through a set of questions whilst they are leading the clinical team. Such a learning experience leads to the improvement of leadership capabilities.
Lynn T. Simon, MD and the President of Clinical Operations and Chief Medical Officer at CHS, remarked that the training format is enhancing clinical team leaders’ capabilities, and aiding them to exhibit better coordination skills in highly stressful situations. He believes that the system can enhance resuscitation outcomes. Lynn considers VR-based learning as a unique and revolutionary approach for all clinical workers.
The VR pilot program was developed through a collaboration and is co-owned by MedStar SiTEL (Simulation Training & Education Lab) and HealthStream. Medstar SiTEL utilised help from MedStar health professionals for evaluation of the program.
