Hospital Training Using Virtual World and Avatars

HHS has a new social media tool that relys upon a virtual world and avatars to help users see outcomes of their actions and make better decisions. This along with other examples demonstrate that we are finally starting to see social media being incorporated into healthcare operations and clinical care in a significant way. This is really exciting for me!

HHS has a new social media tool that relys upon a virtual world and avatars to help users see outcomes of their actions and make better decisions. This along with other examples demonstrate that we are finally starting to see social media being incorporated into healthcare operations and clinical care in a significant way. This is really exciting for me!

The training focuses on prevention of surgical site infections, central lines associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, Catheter-associated urinary tract infections, Clostridium difficile and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In addition, it includes information on basic protocols for universal precautions and isolation precautions to protect patients, visitors, and practitioners from the most common disease transmissions. The training promotes these key behaviors:

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Hand washing
• Vaccination against the flu
• Appropriate use of antibiotics
• Proper insertion, use, and removal of catheters and ventilators

Trainees assume the identity of characters in a computer-based video simulation and make decisions as each of those characters. Based upon their decisions, the training branches to different pathways and patient outcomes. The training is designed and developed for use by groups in facilitated training sessions and by individuals as a self-paced learning tool.