Following a trend in the healthcare industry, BQLI AHEC has piloted the first of two virtual reality-based workshops in collaboration with the Arthur Ashe Institute’s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) located at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn.

Titled “Healthcare and the Metaverse: Learning About CPR,” the workshop is part of BQLI’s effort to introduce evidence-based training plans for workshops geared toward high-school and college students.

“We want to make sure learning is happening during our workshops, and we want to measure the learning,” says Center Director Tom McKee. “Along with the new training plans, we are also deploying new evaluations that help us gather feedback and fine-tune our work.”

The high school-age participants were transported into the metaverse using Oculus-brand virtual-reality visors. As part of the simulation, participants found themselves in a park with a person suffering from cardiac arrest. With the help of instructions from their visors, participants learned the “see, listen, feel” method of performing CPR. They also learned about Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and how to use them.

Once they had completed their virtual-reality scenario, participants also learned when to call 911 and when not to do CPR. (For example, someone attempting to perform CPR never wants to put himself in danger.)

Young people were extremely engaged. One hundred percent of participants said they learned something new about health care as a profession. The same percentage said they would recommend the workshop to a friend.

Training via virtual-reality platforms has become increasingly common in the medical and health professions.

“The virtual-reality visors allow us to take workshops that are relevant, engaging, and unique into classrooms,” McKee says.

BQLI also is offering a second virtual reality-based workshop, called “The Metaverse and Healthcare: Life of a Medic.” It is an emergency medicine-themed workshop.