Improving Healthcare Simulation with HTC VIVE
Extended reality opportunities are quickly capturing the attention of the healthcare industry. Over the last couple of years, the strain of the pandemic has placed significant pressure on the healthcare space.
Everything from staff training strategies, to patient care has evolved to suit an increasingly digitized space. One of the most exciting new technologies in healthcare is XR.
While there are many ways for healthcare companies to use VR and extended reality tools to improve patient experience and boost treatment options, training appears to be one of the most exciting areas of focus for medical teams.
Galderma, a leading pharmaceutical company from Switzerland, partnered with Sector 5 Digital, a powerful software creation company, and HTC Vive to explore the benefits of VR training for themselves.
Immersive Training with Motion-Based Learning
The collaboration between Sector 5 Digital and Galderma prompted the creation of a fantastic motion-based VR experience designed to take anatomy training to the next level.
The decision was made to elevate the learning opportunities for partners, ranging from physicians and nurse practitioners to physician assistants. The main focus of the training was to show professionals how to inject safely and accurately for optimal results.
Galderma, up until recently, has invested heavily in cadaver-based training for medical professionals. However, after surveying trainees on the retention of their anatomy knowledge after such traditional training, Galderma discovered there were significant gaps. The decision to move in a different direction to improve learning immersion was made.
To address the rapidly growing demand for medical professionals in the current landscape, Galderma began considering options outside of the traditional training framework, looking for a creative agency specializing in emerging technology to develop an experience capable of providing immersive learning.
More than just software, Galderma realized they needed the right program for their teams, and the correct hardware capable of running the program.
After evaluating the leading technology providers available on the market, Galderma began their journey with the services of Sector 5 digital, for the development of motion-based VR experiences, through Galderma Interactive Academy.
The purpose behind GIA was to build better knowledge of facial structure in aestheticians, by feeding better information to the Galderma Aesthetics Injector Network.
The creation of the new technology aimed to help trainees better understand where products should be injected based on the unique natural anatomy of each patient.
Helping Professionals Excel
The intelligent software solution built by Sector 5 Digital was an important part of making the Galderma offering a success. However, Galderma also noted that without the right hardware to accompany their software, the solution wouldn’t have been nearly as successful. The VIVE Cosmos was the headset the team chose to embrace for the support of their trainees.
When talking about the project in-depth, the Director of HCP Training and Education, Carrie Galpin said the VIVE Cosmos allowed trainees to embrace the headset quickly and immerse themselves into another world. The company chose the VIVE Cosmos specifically with the guidance of Sector 5 Digital, due to it’s unique functionality.
With the guidance of Sector 5 Digital, focused on finding the hardware most suitable to enable the best outcomes from the available medial training software, VIVE’s technology appeared to be the perfect choice. The inside-out tracking functionality of the headset allowed for the creation of more motion-focused training activities.
Motion-focused training with sensors can help with the development of muscle memory in professionals attempting to develop skills which require significant amounts of precision.
The VIVE Cosmos allows for expert tracking, to help professionals develop practical, not just theoretical skills. At the same time, the Cosmos offers incredible resolution, so it’s possible to immerse trainees in environments with high-end graphics.
The comprehensive ecosystem offered by VIVE Cosmos allowed for the delivery of high-quality training experiences for professionals, along with the use of motion-base chairs, which were essential to the overall experience.
Creating the Ideal Training Opportunity
The Galderma VR solution combines the software of Sector 5 digital with the HTC VIVE Cosmos to bring professionals into a “lab” environment, guided by a female character.
The “GIA” character takes the trainees down into a shrinking chamber, so they feel like they’ve been scaled down to miniature size. From this position, the trainee gets the sensation of being able to move around the facial structure of a patient, providing a unique experience.
The ability to shrink down further also allows trainees to delve into the underlying anatomy of the face. Through this interactive feature, layers of muscle, skin, veins, and ligaments can easily be peeled back. Users can also identify landmarks in patient anatomy better, while achieving an improved look at safe areas where products can be issued.
According to Galderma, the creation of a new way to deliver a wealth of technical and in-depth medical information while keeping audiences engaged ensured better retention and messaging recall for trainees.
Using the VR anatomy program, users could go through a much more comprehensive and engaging training process. What’s more, there’s a series of questions included in the training to test the knowledge of the individual after the experience is complete.
Once returned to the lab, the scores of the individual users are displayed and compared against others to help create an element of gamification in a training environment. This sense of fun combined with the immersive learning environment of Sector 5 Digital’s software creates a fantastic experience.
Encouraging Results
Notably, after the new method of training was implemented, metrics revealed a powerful Net Promotor Score for GIA, with a total of 91.4% of participants reporting they would recommend the same anatomy training experience to fellow colleagues.
Based on these results, the company now plans on deploying this program to thousands of partners in the aesthetics industry around the world, helping to improve their anatomy-based education.
The Galderma, VIVE, and Sector 5 Digital companies believe they’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible in this new healthcare landscape.
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