Ormskirk's Edge Hill university exploring use of virtual patients for paramedic training

May 5 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE students could soon be treating virtual patients on the way to becoming qualified paramedics.

Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, is exploring the plan after taking part in a pioneering pilot project.

The university is looking at the feasibility of using Second Life – an online world of more than 20m users who live virtual lives – to bring 3-D realism to paramedic training.

Chris Beaumont, assistant director of the university’s business school, an expert in problem solving and e-learning, worked with St George’s University of London and Coventry University.

It saw 25 paramedic students create their own virtual paramedic personas, and tasked with responding to life-like scenarios online – ranging from treating a burns victim to a motorcycle accident victim.

To keep it as realistic as possible, the students were kitted out with a virtual medical kit and had to talk to virtual patients via typing into a keyboard to diagnose the extent of injury.

Edge Hill has won a major contract to train paramedics for North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and will welcome its first 40 students for a new two-year diploma in paramedic practice in September.