METASALUD aims to design accurate virtual representations of real healthcare centres that will allow professionals, resident doctors and nurses as well as students to familiarise themselves with the clinical environment before they start proper practice. They can visit these spaces using virtual reality headsets, as well as through computers, tablets and mobile phones. Those visits may improve spatial orientation and operation of healthcare equipment among the participants.

Moreover, there is scientific evidence suggesting the usage of such tools can help reduce preoperative anxiety in the most vulnerable patients, and also improve the experience of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by letting them familiarise themselves with hospital waiting rooms, appointments and diagnostic testing units beforehand.

Apart from 3D reconstruction, digital twins, which are now being implemented, include other crucial elements, such as: safety instructions, images of the layout of medical equipment, videos explaining how complex clinical equipment works, and interactive checklists. All of the aforementioned factors contribute to medical preparation and coordination, as well as directly improve healthcare quality and safety of patients.

So far, the 3D reconstruction project has been implemented in various areas of Morales Meseguer Hospital, Abanilla Health Centre, the Emergency Department of Reina Sofía Hospital and Adult Intensive Care Unit of Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital. It is expected that, in the following weeks, the recordings will also take place in Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Arrixaca Hospital and Sterilisation Department of Morales Meseguer Hospital.

Image of the digital twin of the observation room at the Emergency Department of Reina Sofía Hospital in Murcia.

This three-year project, currently in its second year of execution, positions the Region of Murcia as the point of reference for usage of immersive technologies in healthcare. The aim is to create a virtual library of sanitary spaces that can be used for both teaching and assistance. UCAM’s leadership in development of such tools, with an active involvement of SMS (Healthcare Service of Murcia) and Consejería de Salud (Regional Ministry of Health), ensures that the implemented solutions meet the real needs of the regional healthcare system.

The coordination team of METASALUD based at UCAM is always open to media and healthcare centres that wish to know more about the project or want to implement these technologies.