The healthcare system today faces many challenges. To keep health organisations afloat, quality of care high, and our staff up to date with the most recent evolutions in care, we see an increasing need for digitally supported and enhanced training and on-the-job support tools for nurses. XR4Health, a project by UCLL and Flanders Make, is using the power of Extended Reality (XR) technology, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), gamification and digital work instructions, to meet that need. The goal is the dissemination of know-how and support of healthcare organizations in adopting XR technology for training of healthcare professionals through an online platform.

By implementing several XR training tools, accessible through a tailor-made platform, we are confident that individual training time will be reduced, together with costs and error rates on the job. Trainings will be flexible and more accessible for a wider audience, the efficiency of trainings will improve. Furthermore, we believe these training tools will have a positive effect on the workability of nurses and lead to a more flexible employability of our workforce. The phased approach for the implementation of these XR technologies will allow us to gradually expand the employability of various trainings and improve the digital knowledge level of nurses.

Three challenges are addressed:
(1) bridging the knowledge gap between healthcare and technology stakeholders,
(2) the development of user-friendly XR demonstrators that are fit-for-purpose and
(3) bringing all components together in an accessible and interactive online platform for all stakeholders.

To enable knowledge transfer, nurses in Flanders were participating in an online needs assessment that surveys the needs of nurses regarding trainings, and their interest for and adoption rate of XR supported trainings. The needs seem to focus around (re)training of medical procedures, such as wound care and tracheotomy, learning various conversational techniques, e.g. aggression management or coping with dementia, and simulations of direct patient contact, such as learning complex procedures without risks to patients. There is also a reported need to improve the digital skills of nurses, especially with global digitization underway, and this project will put additional emphasis on supporting institutions in this evolution.

Upon identifying the training needs, the matchmaking process will commence and XR-tools will be developed in close collaboration with technology stakeholders. In parallel, the online platform will take shape. It will be fully compatible with commonly used systems in healthcare organizations, on any device, without the need for complex and expensive (software) installations. The platform will be accessible for both healthcare professionals and technology partners, to allow for interactions between all parties. As such it becomes a living instrument that will serve as a learning tool for all.

The unique approach to combine the expertise of healthcare organizations and technology partners into developing specialized XR training tools on an accessible and online platform, will create synergies and offer durable and hands-on tools for healthcare professionals. We are interested to share our insights at iCERi 2024 as a workshop or poster.

Keywords: XR, Training, On-the-job, Platform, Technology, Healthcare.