Do Virtual Simulations Prepare For Medical Realities?

How do you study organs and complex living structures in two dimensions? It’s like trying to piece together life on the planet in the age of the dinosaurs from fossils – almost impossible. So why do medical schools require students to learn the tricks of the trade from densely written books and PowerPoint presentations? Luckily, the advancement of technology brought in another dimension: virtual reality. So, we looked around to what extent VR as a three-dimensional teaching tool can support medical education. Let’s dive into virtual laparoscopy, simulated empathy, and co. Can simulated realities trick your senses? In April, NATO conducted the largest military-medical exercise in the history of the Alliance in Romania. In one of the huge military containers called ‘virtual reality center’, paramedics sat in front of screens simulating building collapses, mass casualties, and environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, gas leakage, or radiation. The task was to coordinate their moves to see how they communicate with various units, soldiers, firefighters, first responders in difficult situations and how they make decisions. While soldiers and by-standing journalists casually chatted about local food or which location to visit next, loud screams and clouds of dust indicated on the screen that a building just collapsed due to a strong earthquake – and tons of people need help. Although paramedics were visibly focused on the task, and completed what they wer...
Source: The Medical Futurist - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Future of Medicine Medical Education Virtual Reality doctor Health Healthcare medical student nurse study surgeon Surgery technology VR Source Type: blogs