The Daily Independent
HUNTINGTON 鈥� Mountwest Community & Technical College is working to enhance EMS training through the use of virtual reality.
With virtual reality, EMT/Paramedic instructors can pre-program a range of training scenarios for students to experience.
The program uses VR kits and two headsets. It allows students to practice working in teams, just as they would in real-world situations. The software enables students to train in a safe, controlled environment while experiencing realistic emergency scenarios.
The program is highly interactive, allowing students to conduct detailed virtual patient examinations through the use of voice commands like 鈥減alpate鈥� and 鈥渁uscultate.鈥�
Additionally, students have the ability to pair the technology with Mountwest鈥檚 high-fidelity human simulators to perform hands-on assessments. Virtual patients can provide visual cues, such as facial drooping, skin color changes for patients in shock, and other symptoms, things that where not possible with previous software.
鈥淭he biggest advantage of VR training is the amount of detail and variety of scenarios we can simulate for the students,鈥� Ed Bays , Director of EMT/Paramedic Science programs at Mountwest, said.
鈥淲hile we still run through non-virtual reality scenarios and training, this software has truly enhanced our ability to provide a higher level of quality instruction, all while ensuring our students are in a safe learning environment. Not only have we been able to enhance our training, but we are able to enroll more students who can go into employment to serve high demand and much needed EMS jobs in our community.鈥�
To learn more about Mountwest鈥檚 EMT or Paramedic program, visit or contact Ed Bays at bays@mctc.edu. Prospective students, community members, media and partners are welcome to schedule a tour of the simulation lab and check out the VR technology.
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