HTC VIVE, an Extended Reality (XR) hardware provider, completed a survey in 2023 on the current role of XR in training. The recent survey assessed 400 healthcare and social assistance professionals throughout the US to determine the current role of XR training in healthcare and the potential trajectory. The results indicate XR training is gaining popularity and plays a pivotal role in overcoming traditional training limitations. Clinical simulation programs have increased the incorporation of XR into training healthcare providers. This HealthySimulation.com article will highlight some of the results of the 2023 HTC VIVE Survey.
How Extended Reality (XR) Healthcare Training Enhances Preparedness and Outcomes
Workers and executives face pressure to provide top-tier care and outcomes with limited resources in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Traditional training methods in the industry are often costly, constrained by a lack of practice time, and prone to bottlenecks. However, extended reality (XR) training is emerging as a transformative solution that enables healthcare professionals to better prepare for their essential tasks in less time while helping executives achieve better outcomes with fewer resources.
Key Findings from the Survey: The survey results reveal widespread approval and optimism regarding XR training in healthcare:
- Enhanced Education Plans: A staggering 91% of respondents believe that XR training enhances educational plans and empowers training coordinators to be more effective.
- Approval of XR Deployments: For organizations that have already adopted XR training, 84% of respondents say they “like” or “love” the XR training deployments they’ve already approved.
- Future Adoption: 85% of respondents whose organizations have not yet adopted XR training believe they will do so by 2026 at the latest.
- Attracting Top Talent and Patients: More than four in five respondents believe investing in XR makes their facility attractive to top-tier talent and more appealing to patients.
Benefits of XR Training in Healthcare: The survey highlights several compelling benefits of XR training in a healthcare setting:
- Instilling Confidence: 86% of respondents believe that XR training programs instill confidence in trainees and help them develop the muscle memory needed for success.
- Time Efficiency: 75% agree that incorporating XR allows trainees to complete programs in less time.
- Scalability: 79% indicate that XR training enables programs to scale to other departments or locations.
- Competitive Edge: 81% believe that using XR in training gives their organization a competitive edge in attracting top-tier talent.
- Appeal to Patients: 82% believe that using XR in training makes their organization more appealing to patients.
View the LEARN CE/CME Platform Webinar How to Select the Right VR Headset for Clinical Training to learn more!
XR as an Alternative to Increasing Training Costs
As healthcare organizations grapple with rising costs due to pandemic-driven supply chain challenges, XR training provides an alternative to traditional training models. By reducing the need to divert costly equipment and supplies away from patient care for training purposes, XR streamlines the learning process. Moreover, the ease of setup and integration into existing training programs makes XR appealing to organizations looking to improve efficiency.
Overcoming Perceived Barriers
While XR training presents numerous advantages, some organizations hesitate to adopt XR due to perceived barriers:
- Staff Expertise: 54% of respondents attribute hesitation to staff lacking the expertise to deploy XR training programs.
- Evaluation Challenges: 53% find evaluating XR options overly difficult.
Despite these concerns, only 28% of respondents who currently use XR in their organization reported facing implementation difficulties. Overcoming these initial hesitations is essential for realizing the profound impact of XR on modern medical needs.
Future Growth of Healthcare XR
The healthcare XR market is projected to grow significantly, with revenues expected to surpass $5.3 billion by the end of 2028. With a compound annual growth rate of 42% over the next five years, XR training is poised to become a key driver of progress in healthcare.
Extended reality (XR) training represents a transformative approach to healthcare training, enabling professionals to hone their skills efficiently while reducing resource strain on facilities. The survey results underscore the growing enthusiasm for XR and the potential to revolutionize healthcare training, benefiting workers and executives alike. As organizations embrace this innovative technology, they position themselves for better preparedness, improved outcomes, and a more appealing environment for patients and top-tier talent.
Why Healthcare Providers Choose VIVE?
In short, security. VIVE is manufactured in TAA-approved Taiwan, providing distinct advantages over competitors such as Meta and Pico, which are manufactured in China. TAA compliance is crucial for government-funded entities with stringent hardware procurement requirements. Additionally, VIVE’s compliance with 889 regulations prohibits federal contracts involving specific blacklisted telecommunication and video surveillance equipment, contributing to national security efforts.
In operational terms, VIVE is designed for enterprise use by simplifying fleet management to allow multiple headsets to be managed under a single account, significantly reducing administrative workload. Unlike Meta, VIVE doesn’t require additional subscriptions for share mode on each headset, resulting in cost savings. Additionally, VIVE prioritizes data privacy by minimizing data collection and restricting third-party access, which aligns seamlessly with healthcare regulations. These features make VIVE the top choice for healthcare VR initiatives, enhancing patient care and security.
- Data Collection Transparency: HTC VIVE provides information about the data collected and how the data is used that data in privacy policies. Users should review these policies to understand what data is being collected and for what purposes.
- Privacy Settings: Users have some control over their data through privacy settings within the VIVE platform. These settings can often be customized to manage data sharing and collection preferences.
- Secure Data Storage: HTC VIVE stores user data securely using industry-standard security protocols. Data is typically encrypted to protect unauthorized access.
- Software Updates: Regular software updates can help maintain security by patching vulnerabilities and improving the system’s defenses against potential attacks.
- User Authentication: HTC VIVE requires users to sign in with an account, offering a layer of security through authentication. Users should use strong passwords and, when available, enable two-factor authentication for added security.
- Compliance with Regulations: HTC VIVE strives to comply with relevant data protection laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, which provides a set of standards for handling personal data.
- Third-Party Content: VIVE’s VR content often includes experiences and apps from third-party developers. Users should consider these third parties’ privacy policies and data practices when using their content.
Read the Full HTC VIVE 2023 Survey on the Role of XR in Clinical Training
