An immersive medical education software company is applying its medical-grade virtual reality platform to train surgeons. Precision OS Technology will partner with the Global Spine Congress in Rio De Janeiro May 20-23 to co-host the first-ever cadaver-less training and education course for spine surgery.
The focus of Precision OS is training and education geared for all levels of surgeons and healthcare providers. In a phone interview, Dr. Danny Goel, an orthopedic surgeon who serves as the company CEO and co-founder, explained their approach to personalized learning with performance metrics.
Dr. Danny Goel, Precision OS CEO
“Our fundamental approach has been to enhance, challenge and personalize surgical education and training towards proficiency. Given the impact well trained physicians can have on outcomes, the implications of our platform to deliver on that ability forms the core of our company” said Dr Danny Goel.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company’s platform embraces an approach to training referred to as “deliberate practice”. Goel explained how learning through a near real life scenario, measuring independent decision making, failure and outcome realization maximizes the output for the learner. Allowing one to pause, reflect, and evaluate their errors in a safe environment with no patient harm promotes learning while reducing stress. The operating room is a stressful and high-risk environment where both cognitive and psychomotor skills are disadvantaged. Current models can be enhanced with virtual reality but there is a significant difference between these models of learning.
“The Global Spine Congress is very excited to offer a novel course on spinal procedures using the Precision OS virtual reality platform to replace cadavers and teach complex spinal procedures,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wang, Course Chairman and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, University of Southern California Spine Center. “It appears the future of surgical simulation is now available, and we are extremely pleased to offer this unique opportunity to utilize modern technology and optimize the educational experience.”
Notable milestones Precision OS Technology has reached includes scientifically validating their technology in a recent randomized blinded controlled trial published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Am. It demonstrated how Precision OS helps senior surgical residents learn surgical skills 570% faster than traditional approaches to training which improved their abilities by 150%. They are an accredited provider of continuing medical education (CME) through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and recently educated and trained more than 300 medical device reps, who Goel said play an important role in supporting physicians, trainees, and nursing staff on the safe use of their implants.
Several companies have embraced virtual reality as a novel approach to medical education. Augmented and virtual reality sector in the healthcare market is projected to grow to $6.5 billion by 2025, according to data from Markets and Markets.
“Positively impacting the learning curve, promoting retention and enhanced decision making are critical ingredients required by surgeons to provide the highest quality of care for their patients” said Dr. Goel.
To learn more about Precision OS and its medical education software, contact Alyssa Wadey: alyssa@jiveprdigital.com
Photo: Precision OS
