Virtual Reality Medical Workflow Training

Hyperacute Stroke Management with Telestroke

TACTICS VR – Stroke Telehealth has been developed as a partnership between the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) and the Centre for Advanced Training Systems (University of Newcastle) in collaboration with the Hunter New England Stroke Research Group and NSW Telestroke Service.

The module was initiated to address a recognised unmet need for educational training tools to upskill clinicians in stroke telestroke workflow, particularly in rural, regional and remote settings. Users of the first TACTICS VR module also highlighted the need for an expansion module focussed specifically on telehealth. The project is part of the larger, state-wide NSW Telestroke Service project introducing and implementing telehealth practices in hospitals throughout NSW.

VR screenshot

The primary goals of TACTICS VR – Stroke Telehealth training are to:

Increase awareness of stroke telehealth services and workflow procedures
Provide familiarisation with existing stroke telehealth resources
Emphasise the importance of effective communication to improve patient outcomes

VR screenshots shown above

In TACTICS VR – Stroke Telehealth, VR users are guided through a real-world stroke patient case with specific emphasis on telestroke communication and consultation processes. In TACTICS VR – Stroke Telehealth, users walkthrough a real stroke case with an emphasis on telehealth interactions. 

Content is organised across the following scenes:

  • Opening
  • Introduction & Instructions
  • Initial Patient Assessment
  • Telehealth Consult #1: Initial Assessment
  • Radiology Imaging
  • Telehealth Consult #2: Radiology
  • Telehealth Consult #3: Consent & Treatment
  • User Feedback

TACTICS VR – Stroke Telehealth has been developed and implemented into NSW hospitals starting from April 2021. Research describing the design and roll-out are available in the publication below.

The Australasian Stroke Academy supports the TACTICS VR – Stroke Telehealth training objectives and content and endorses the platform for best-practice stroke training

Research Publications

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