Smart Glasses for VVED and Virtual Ward Rounds
La Trobe University
The Challenge
The pilot project aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of integrating smart glasses into theVictorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED)telehealth service. The core of the project involves providing one pair of smart glasses to four rural Urgent Care Centres (UCCs). These glasses, which do not store patient data, offer a hands-free solution for clinicians, enabling a real-time, first-person view for VVED clinicians during co-teleconsultations. The study is evaluating the technology’s effectiveness in improving communication, reducing errors, and ensuring timely care, ultimately contributing to a better telehealth experience for both staff and patients.
The Partnership
The smart glasses pilot project is a collaborative effort between Northern Health and La Trobe University. The project is also being conducted in conjunction with four specific rural Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) located in Kyabram, Nathalia, Cobram, and Numurkah. This
partnership is a key component of the study’s design, as it allows for the implementation and evaluation of the new technology in a real-world clinical setting.
The Solution
The proposed solution is the integration of augmented virtual reality “smart glasses” specifically one pair of RealWear Navigator 520 smart glasses, at each of the four rural UCCs. These glasses are designed to improve the VVED consultation process by providing clinicians with enhanced capabilities, such as a camera, microphone, and speakers, which offer a first-person view. This technology is intended to provide a hands-free solution for clinicians, allowing them to continue treating the patient while simultaneously participating in a three-way call with the VVED clinician and the patient. The glasses are also compatible with secure existing apps like MS Teams.
Recognition & Impact
- The study addresses a gap in current research by focusing on the feasibility and acceptability of using smart glasses in Australian pre-hospital settings, particularly within rural UCCs, thereby providing valuable insights that could lead to the expansion of smart glasses use in other health services.
- It will benefit the target population by improving co-teleconsultations between remote clinicians and emergency healthcare workers in major hospitals, leading to more timely and high-quality patient care in rural areas.
Project Highlights
- Structured Evaluation: The study will use the Bowen’s Framework of Feasibility to evaluate key outcomes, including demand, acceptability, implementation, practicality, integration, and limited efficacy.
- Data Collection: Data will be collected through pre-and post-implementation surveys and interviews with both UCC and VVED clinicians, as well as telephone interviews with patients.
- Training Protocol: A two-phase training program will be implemented for staff, including a “train the trainer” style session and an on-site demonstration to troubleshoot any issues.
Contact Person & Details
- Prof. James Boyd, Chair of Digital Health and Innovation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University james.boyd@latrobe.edu.au
- Jeff Jones, Director, Innovation Central Melbourne jeffrey.jones@latrobe.edu.au
Spin-off Projects
- Evaluation and development of remote monitoring devices/services to support virtual and integrated models of care