Hospital-associated respiratory infections pose a significant threat in hospital environments, particularly during colder seasons when seasonal illnesses are at their peak. In a bid to bolster the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding these dangerous pathogens and their prevention, Dassault Systèmes has teamed up with Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP to introduce a cutting-edge training program.
Centered on addressing the pressing knowledge gaps in infection control, this new initiative could redefine the way hospitals prepare for the flu season and manage the spread of airborne diseases. To pave the way for this vital program, the ESPRI team at the Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP conducted a detailed survey across their facility to grasp the scope of hospital-acquired infections. The survey spanned an impressive pool of 300 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff.
In a shocking revelation, the ESPRI study found that less than 20% of the surveyed staff could accurately answer queries about respiratory cross-transmission. This held true even in the face of soaring respiratory infections that abound in healthcare settings, especially within open care spaces where airborne particles can disperse unrestrained. ESPRI pointed to a lack of regular, practical training tailored to address these specific risks as the likely explanation for this knowledge gap.
Stepping away from stale, lecture-based learning, the novel program from Dassault Systèmes and Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP focuses on learning through experiential practice. Leveraging the power of Sense Computing, the methodology creates virtual twins of the hospital environments using augmented reality. The process illuminates airflow patterns within these spaces, offering unmatched insight into the spread of airborne infections in open care areas.
This ground-breaking training approach transcends the boundaries of conventional, passive learning by enabling healthcare professionals to interact with an immersive experience, thereby increasing their competency in identifying and mitigating airborne infection risks. Through this, healthcare workers can apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, resulting in improved patient safety decisions.
Dr. Guillaume Mellon of Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP highlights the unique advantages of AR-based instruction: ‘Unlike conventional methods, augmented reality breathes life into infection prevention training. With the use of an iPad, practitioners can navigate their workspace, visualise airborne particle movement, and comprehend risks in real-time, making training more engaging and impactful.’
The efforts of Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP and Dassault Systèmes extends to the Virtual Twin as a Service (VTaaS) approach, offering advanced modelling and simulation capabilities without needing in-house tech expertise. VTaaS programs, powered by Dassault Systèmes’ robust experience with virtual twin technology, provide in-depth insights within constraints of time and budget, thus aiding organisations in optimising ventilation systems and patient bed placements to curtail airborne illnesses.
The VTaaS approach also enables realistic simulations that estimate the presence of respiratory particles between patients, presenting a tangible understanding of air contamination risks. Benoit Plaud from Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP refers to the collaboration as a boon to understanding air contamination, asserting, ‘The use of augmented reality has revolutionised our understanding of how contamination occurs, by allowing us to directly visualise airflow in open care spaces.’
The AR-visualised simulations have made a startling discovery — respiratory particles can easily traverse up to 25 metres, showing that a patient’s surrounding is not the only area of contagion risk. This reinforces the need for efficient ventilation systems and protective protocols to limit the spread of airborne diseases.
Source: https://healthcare-digital.com/news/augmented-reality-to-transform-hospital-infection-training