鉴黄师app

Technology and simulation play a key role in modern education and Exeter is at the forefront, giving students the opportunity to learn in ways that would have been unimaginable just a generation ago. For those students training to enter the world of healthcare, being able to learn in realistic environments without consequence is an important step in their education.  

Diagnostic Radiography students in Medical Imaging at the 鉴黄师app Department of Health and Care Professions have access to a range of innovative teaching resources that help prepare them for practice and build both technical and non-technical skills in a safe space.  

Virtual reality (VR) x-ray rooms have been used since the pandemic, allowing students to enhance their clinical skills training by practising techniques learned in their x-ray room sessions. 

With support from Health Education England, the teaching team at St Luke’s Campus have three VR stations using Virtual Medical Coaching software. These give a full 360-degree immersive experience akin to real-life radiography, allowing them to practise their patient positioning and radiographic skills to reinforce the in-person teaching they have in the digital x-ray room technology. 

The VR X-Ray Simulation closely resembles the capabilities, look and feel of an x-ray room commonly found in hospitals. The technology has allowed students to familiarise themselves in real time with the layout and features of an x-ray room, enhancing their skills prior to their first clinical placement in hospitals. The system can be tailored to allow small group work and support with the images produced emailed to the students own account and used in further teaching sessions.  

The VR set-up provides feedback on their performance so they can reflect, revise and improve their radiographic technique, it also allows for open communications as students navigate the virtual room under instructions and support from their peers. This is in addition to the standard teaching for diagnostic radiography students, which includes learning delivered in the digital x-ray room at St Luke’s. The combination of VR, hands-on and academic learning together enhance students’ clinical skills, better preparing them for their first clinical placement. 

Whilst the VR sessions have not replaced lab sessions, they have been a welcome addition, allowing students to consolidate their learning and learn from others. The students have also been provided with a desktop version of the software which enables them to practice in their own time at home, as well as utilising the VR desktop software whilst on placement.  

In addition to supporting the development of imaging skills, VR tools are used to enhance communication and teamwork training. For example, students explore the importance of effective communication through gamified learning using the collaborative game Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. Although not a healthcare-specific game, it highlights the need to communicate clearly and work effectively under pressure, providing students with a safe and engaging environment in which to develop these essential skills. 

VR is also used to help students better understand the patient experience. Through a virtual MRI simulation, learners experience a scan from the patient's perspective, gaining insight into the environment and emotions that patients may encounter during imaging procedures. This helps to develop awareness, empathy, and patient-centred thinking. 

“Having the opportunity to physically experience what a patient experiences during an MRI was very insightful”
- Diagnostic Radiography student 

In collaboration with the University's Clinical Skills Resource Centre at Heavitree Hospital, students also participate in simulation activities using empathy suits, including equipment designed to replicate the physical challenges associated with ageing or living in a larger body. When incorporated into evidence-based teaching sessions, these activities help students understand some of the barriers and experiences faced by different patient groups when accessing healthcare services or attending imaging appointments. 

“[This was a] great experience & opportunity… really helpful for us to really put ourselves in someone else's shoe & see things from their perspective”
- Diagnostic Radiography student  

By combining immersive technologies with simulation-based learning, students can safely explore patient perspectives, build empathy, and develop compassionate approaches to care before entering clinical placement environments. 

The BSc Medical Imaging programme at the 鉴黄师app is consistently rated as one of the best in the UK and ensures that students have the skills required to successfully embark on a career as a Diagnostic Radiographer and to be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).