Simulation provides immersive learning and robust assessment for trauma providers. Trauma certification courses such as the European Trauma Course (ETC), the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), and Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) integrate simulation into their curriculum to emphasize teamwork and non-technical skills. Many see Virtual Reality (VR) as an opportunity to make trauma simulation more realistic and accessible worldwide. To meet the demand for high-quality, accessible simulation, VR training must support complex interprofessional dynamics, realistic medical physiology, and comprehensive virtual tool sets that align with trauma management learning objectives.
Advertorial
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into medical education is transforming how students learn, practice, and master essential skills. Yet, for AI tools to deliver meaningful results, they need to be supported by intuitive, well-designed user interfaces (UI) and dashboards that bring clarity to complexity. Dashboards in AI systems function much like the cockpit of an airplane: they provide real-time, actionable data to help students stay on course while managing the inevitable turbulence of medical training.
Figure 1: Immersive VR training setup allows for a lightweight, high-fidelity simulation consisting of (1) Facilitator PC (2) VR headset(s) and (3) hand controllers. Source: SimX Inc.
VR Training Platforms Allow the Ability to Train Anywhere and Anytime
VR participants wear a headset that fully replaces their view of the real world, allowing for customization of environments, tools, and patient features. Many VR headsets operate wirelessly and do not require a cable to directly link to a computer, enabling participants to walk around the environment naturally. This technology can be networked to accommodate geographically dispersed participants and further foster international cooperation. Furthermore, the ability for instructors to facilitate sessions remotely improves access to high-quality training on a global scale.
Commercially available VR platforms offer lightweight simulation alternatives to traditional simulation systems. They typically require just a headset and laptop, making the system low-footprint and portable. VR training sessions are flexible, and can be moderated by expert or peer facilitators, or they can progress autonomously with artificial intelligence (AI) guiding scenario progression. The systems can automate vital sign changes, physical exam findings, and state flow changes based on learner interventions. These automatic features reduce staffing requirements to run complicated, immersive simulations. All actions can be tracked in real time into an automatically generated after-action report (AAR) to facilitate immediate debriefing. VR allows more flexibility, allowing training to happen anywhere at any time.
VR Allows for Robust Interprofessional Simulation
Trauma management relies on coordinated teamwork among nurses, physicians, and other healthcare personnel working together to stabilize patients. VR platforms allow for multiple players to simultaneously manage the scenario. The VR platform can track users, assigning participants to specific team roles within the training exercise. Other features allow the addition of virtual non-player characters (NPCs) to perform the functions of team-members that are not present in the simulation, allowing more flexibility to run the simulation with different learner populations. To address learning objectives for prehospital providers, nurses and physicians, scenarios must allow transitions in care from the point of injury, ambulance, and hospital trauma bay. All the required tool sets must be replicated in virtual reality with realistic fidelity to allow learners to practice trauma management as they would in real life. VR platforms are able to deliver on this, providing realistic, immersive environments that allow all types of participants the ability to train their specialty specific learning objectives and work together as a team to manage complicated trauma scenarios.
Figure 3. VR allows for scene progression from the prehospital management, to en route care, to the hospital management in a trauma bay all within one scenario. Source: SimX Inc.
Conclusion & Way Ahe
The mainstream adoption of affordable VR technology marks a pivotal moment for trauma simulation. Its integration promises reduced logistical burdens and enhanced accessibility for scalable, high-fidelity collaborative training in fundamental trauma management. VR is a versatile tool that complements existing methods, offering immersive practice and decision-making opportunities across all training backgrounds. Realizing VR’s potential will require thoughtful curriculum integration and infrastructure investment. However, the long-term gains, coupled with the inherent cost-efficiencies, make further development and adoption of these platforms an imperative path ahead.
READ ALSO
