IVRHA Patient Safety Technology Challenge
Healthcare simulation can serve as a training ground for providers to better understand how to ensure patient safety in their work. Technological advances in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) further increase the applications of simulation within health care to benefit providers and patients. The technology is ready, but it first must be applied to healthcare environments in order to improve care.
This is why the Patient Safety Technology Challenge, funded by the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, sponsored the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association’s Patient Safety Technology Challenge. This Challenge asked applicants to envision a transformative approach for a vastly safer healthcare system.The three best ideas were awarded cash prizes.
The winning team’s idea was a pilot to incorporate VR guided breathing exercises for airway clearance in high-risk post-operative patients. The submission came from the West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine team, which included Alejandro Estrada, MD, Edward Rojas, MD, Jenna Sizemore, MD, Amirahwaty Abdullah, MBBS, and Allie Karshenas, PhD. Their idea aims to reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), which is the second most common nosocomial infection in the United States. Post-operative pulmonary complications are associated with increased risk of HAP. One in five patients who have a post-operative pulmonary complication will die in 30 days. The team believes technology could improve patient safety through a VR game designed for targeted breathing exercises to teach adequate technique for the spirometer.
Another of the top ideas also came from WVU Medicine.The team presented the idea to use VR to trainphysicians onproper and safe techniques when placing central line catheters. Central line blood stream infections (CLABSIs) are another preventable hospital-acquired infection that could be reduced through novel applications of technology.
The third prize went to University of Pennsylvania startup venture, Vital Sign for Well-Being, which is a VR-enabled, evidence-based, and personalized platform to improve reproductive and maternal mental health. The platform aims to improve mental health through 1:1 personalized therapy through a virtual care platform and social connection in group coaching.
According to the top team, “while we have advanced diagnostic testing and imaging, we have yet to effectively implement these advancements into patient safety and patient preventative measures minimizing further complications in both inpatient and outpatient settings. There is significant potential for incorporation of technology into healthcare to not only mitigate morbidity and mortality but also improve quality of care.” The Patient Safety Technology Challenge is passionate about supporting innovators in applying and employing technology to improve patient safety.