Medical Graphics
Research Group

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VIG@Chester

ParaVR - Skills Maintenance for Paramedics

Virtual reality (VR) technology is emerging as a powerful tool in medical training and has potential benefits for paramedic education, particularly skills retention. We are collaborating with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) to develop ParaVR, an affordable immersive VR simulation of more uncommon procedures that a paraedic needs to perform. Currently we have developed a simulation of chest decompression using the Oculus Rift. We are also exploring using a haptics device to control the needle so that the paramedic feels the right sensation. This has been in collaboration with Grupo de Robótica at the University of León, Spain.

Prototype of the chest decompression simulator. The virtual patient is at the scene of a road accident.
Figure 1: Prototype of the chest decompression simulator. The virtual patient is at the scene of a road accident. [PNG]

VR is an emerging educational tool with the potential to enhance paramedic skills development and maintenance. The ParaVR programme is the first step in the development, testing and scaling up of this technology.

Collaborators: Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Grupo de Robótica at the University of León

  1. Rees, N., Beever, L., Vaughan, N., Powell, C., Fletcher, A., & John, N. W. (2021). Virtual reality training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in schools. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 13(9), 365–372. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2021.13.9.365 [bib]
  2. Rees, N., Vaughan, N., Day, T. W., Dorrington, K., Rees, L., & John, N. W. (2020). ParaVR: a virtual reality training simulator for paramedic skills maintenance. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 12(12), 430–438. [bib]
  3. Gutiérrez-Fernández, A., Hogan, C., Rees, N., Fernández-Llamas, C., & John, N. W. (2022). An Immersive Haptic-enabled Training Simulation for Paramedics. In 2022 International Conference on Cyberworlds (CW) (pp. 79–85). https://doi.org/10.1109/CW55638.2022.00020 [bib]