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Full disclosure: We own a modest position in FMS stock (500 shares). This and EVERY blog that mentions Fresenius is from the perspective of a patient of Fresenius – they provide all of the support services for my PD – or as an educator, period.

How we got here: Back in the day when I taught Entrepreneurship at Purdue University, I got involved in the use of Linden Lab’s Second Life for educational purposes. Second Life is an online multimedia platform that allows people to create an avatar for themselves and then interact with other users and user-created content within a multi-player online virtual world. Developed and owned by the San Francisco-based firm Linden Lab and launched on June 23, 2003, it saw rapid growth for some years and in 2013 it had approximately one million regular users. I have had an interest in computer-based reality scenarios ever since.

While crawling through the online news app Artifact recently, I came across an article that reported success by Fresenius Medical Germany in the use of Virtual Reality in the training of PD patients. This was followed after more research by an article dated 1/5/2023 reporting that FMS had received a $130,000 contract in Mississippi to provide VR-based training there. And that lead me to the conclusion that more PD patients are or have been confronted with VR technology in their PD journey. Thus this blog. See the link at the very bottom of this blog for a short PR video from Fresenius on their use of VR in PD training.

First, just what is Virtual Reality (VR) – based training? Virtual Reality Training is a technology-based training method that uses computer software and special sensory hardware to recreate real environments and scenarios. These virtual environments allow students to engage in fully immersive, realistic, and interactive virtual training scenarios.

The video below provides ten examples of the use of VR in training,

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has been increasingly adopted by healthcare providers to provide a more immersive and effective training experience for medical professionals. One area where VR has shown promise is in the training of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) procedures. Fresenius Medical Care, a leading provider of dialysis products and services, has been one of the pioneers in the use of VR for PD training as I previously alluded to.

Fresenius VR PD Training

Fresenius Medical Care has partnered with tech company OSSO VR to develop a VR training program for PD procedures. (OSSO VR was founded in Feb 2016 by Justin Barad and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Osso VR is a surgical training and assessment platform that uses advanced virtual reality to train and assess medical personnel. Their product offers realistic hand-based interactions in an immersive training environment containing cutting-edge procedures and devices according to TechCrunch.) The program uses realistic simulations to provide trainees with hands-on experience in performing PD catheter insertion, exit site care, and other procedures. The program also includes assessments to evaluate trainee performance and provide feedback for improvement.

According to Fresenius, the VR training program has shown promising results in improving trainee performance and confidence in performing PD procedures. In a study conducted by the company, trainees who underwent the VR training program showed a significant improvement in their ability to perform PD catheter insertion compared to those who underwent traditional training methods.

Other VR PD Training Programs

Apart from Fresenius, other healthcare providers have also developed VR training programs for PD procedures. For instance, the Kidney Health Education and Research Group (KHERG) in Australia has developed a VR training program for PD patients and caregivers. The program uses a 360-degree video to provide an immersive experience in learning about PD and its related procedures.

Similarly, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has developed a VR training program for PD nurses. The program uses a 3D model of the human abdominal cavity to provide a realistic environment for practicing PD procedures.

Successes and Failures

While VR has shown promise in improving the effectiveness of PD training, there have also been some setbacks. One of the main challenges faced by VR training programs is the cost of the technology. VR equipment can be expensive, making it difficult for healthcare providers to implement VR training programs on a large scale.

Another issue is the lack of standardization in VR training programs. Different providers may use different VR technologies and simulations, which can lead to inconsistencies in training outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, VR has shown great potential in improving the effectiveness of PD training programs. Fresenius and other healthcare providers have developed VR training programs that have shown promising results in improving trainee performance and confidence. However, the high cost of VR technology and the lack of standardization are some of the challenges that need to be addressed. Despite these challenges, the use of VR in PD training is likely to continue to grow as healthcare providers seek to improve the quality of care for PD patients.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ghQY41_ne8