Singapore medical students to learn patient safety through new virtual reality training

All medical students at the National University of Singapore will be taught patient safety through a virtual reality (VR) game, a move prompted by the COVID-19 social distancing rules.

The game, called PAtient Safety aS Inter-Professional Training (PASS-IT), will use VR to get all 1,500 of them acquainted with the proper procedures in operating theatres. It was developed by the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine).

The school has 12 such VR stations. Each has a 15-minute game with various medical scenarios that will require the students to "act out" the standard operating procedures. These range from how to check for a patient's consent and verify their identity as well as the correct ways to handle surgical tools and what must be done if a team member accidentally cuts himself.

"This VR system is a good tool to help the students consolidate their learning despite increased clinical restrictions," said Associate Professor Alfred Kow, assistant dean of education of NUS Medicine.

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Source: The Straits Times, 5 August 2020