Lumeto Leads Canadian Consortium in AI-XR Healthcare Training Innovation
A consortium of Canadian organizations led by Lumeto has been awarded DIGITAL’s Global Innovation Cluster Co-investment to further the advancement of AI-enabled healthcare education. This collaboration between Lumeto, Unity Health Toronto, and the University of Manitoba aims to revolutionize healthcare training through an innovative AI-driven XR platform, creating the most advanced AI healthcare training system on the market to address the urgent need for scalable, cost-effective solutions in training healthcare professionals.
The project enhances Lumeto’s InvolveXR platform with AI patients that are realistic, dynamic, and clinically validated. Learners can now interact with AI Characters in virtual clinical environments, practicing assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for various medical conditions.
Key features of the enhanced platform include:
- Fine-tuned language learning models with high-quality training data from healthcare partners
- Over 10 voice tones and nuanced facial expressions for AI patients
- Ability for AI patients to comply with verbal commands
- Full suite of virtual medical tools in immersive environments like emergency rooms and ICUs
This technology aims to make it easier to train healthcare professionals on complex skills such as effective patient communication management and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba, including Kimberly Workum, Lawrence Gillman, Fiha Barkat A., and Sufia Turner, examined the effectiveness of AI-enhanced virtual reality (AI-VR) simulations compared to standardized patient (SP) simulations in nursing education. The study, which utilized InvolveXR, revealed several key findings:
- Realism: While SP simulations provide rich non-verbal communication and authentic clinical interactions, AI-VR offers dynamic, adaptive patient responses.
- Psychological Safety: AI-VR fosters a low-risk, judgment-free environment, reducing performance anxiety, whereas SP simulations can create heightened stress due to peer and faculty presence.
- Skill Development: SP simulations excel in therapeutic communication, while AI-VR enhances structured patient assessments, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
The researchers concluded that a blended approach, integrating both AI-VR and SP simulations, optimizes learning outcomes. They also highlighted the scalability and accessibility of AI-VR solutions, particularly for rural and remote healthcare education programs.
Raja Khanna, CEO of Lumeto, expressed his excitement about the project:
“We’re thrilled to be building a cutting-edge technological and clinical infrastructure that will enable a more trained healthcare workforce in Canada and globally. This collaboration represents a significant leap forward in healthcare education, leveraging AI and XR to create scalable, immersive learning experiences that will ultimately improve patient care and safety.”
Lindsay Beavers, Simulation Program Manager at Unity Health Toronto, commented:
“The partnership between Unity Health Toronto, Lumeto and University of Manitoba is a powerful one. By bringing together front line clinical and simulation expertise, industry, and academia we are uniquely positioned to push the boundaries of AI, XR and simulation for health professions education, practice and research. This is Canadian innovation and partnership at its finest.”
Kimberly Workum, Director of Clinical Competence Assessment Centre and Digital Strategies at the University of Manitoba, added:
“Working with AI Characters in InvolveXR has been a game-changer for our nursing education. The emotional engagement and realism of these interactions provide an unparalleled tool for developing professional skills. This collaboration is setting new standards for immersive healthcare training.”
Dr. Nicole Harder, Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, shared her insights on the project’s impact:
“Thanks to our grant, we’ve been able to explore the efficacy of VR and AI virtual patients in depth. Our findings demonstrate that this technology not only enhances learning outcomes but also provides a scalable solution for consistent, high-quality healthcare education. The potential for improving patient care through this innovative approach is truly exciting.”
This collaboration represents a significant step forward in healthcare education, leveraging Canadian innovation to address global challenges in healthcare workforce training.