How virtual reality is changing home health care

The unknown of what’s behind the next door. That’s the reality for clinicians delivering care in homes. Every environment is different, and each situation is unique. 

Emma O’Donnell, a Clinical Nurse Manager at Alfred Health, is passionate about helping home healthcare workers prepare for unpredictable moments with virtual reality (VR) technology. 

'I identified a gap for our clinicians working in home environments. You don’t have the same support when delivering care outside of the hospital. It’s a very autonomous role where it might just be you and the patient’. 

Alfred Health’s ‘Hospital in the Home’ service provides bed-substituted care to support patients in their homes - an approach that requires a diverse skill set, and until now, much of that learning has happened on the job. 

Determined to find a better way, Emma embarked on a study tour across Australia and the Unites States to learn how VR technology is already transforming clinical training. 

At Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Emma observed VR simulations for Advanced Life Support and clinical de-escalation training, featuring AI-driven virtual patients exhibiting challenging behaviours. 'Virtual reality training can replicate situations that are difficult to produce in a typical learning environment. It allows multiple students to experience the same scenario and discuss learnings together’.