Virtual reality to improve diagnostic safety in the pediatric ICU
Digital Innovation, Simulation, and Collaboration using Virtual Environment Realities (DISCOVER) for Pediatric Diagnostic
This project uses realistic virtual-reality PICU simulations to help doctors and nurses use decision-support tools more safely for sick children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136431 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will run realistic, team-based simulations of the pediatric intensive care unit using an immersive virtual-reality environment to mirror real workflows and pressures. Clinical teams will interact with clinical decision-support tools, including AI-based suggestions, while designers and human-factors experts observe how the tools affect teamwork, alerts, and documentation. The team will use a systems-engineering approach to try different implementation strategies and refine the tools and workflows to reduce disruptions and safety risks. The work is led by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in partnership with a user-centered design group to develop practical fixes before putting tools into real patient care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project enrolls PICU clinicians and care teams in simulated scenarios rather than patient volunteers, so patients are not directly enrolled.
Not a fit: Children who are not cared for in a PICU setting or whose care does not involve these decision-support tools are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce diagnostic mistakes and related harm for children cared for in PICUs by making decision-support tools safer and easier to use.
How similar studies have performed: Simulation and human-factors work has improved team performance and some decision-support use in other settings, but using immersive VR to test CDS adoption in real PICU teams is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dewan, Maya L — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Dewan, Maya L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.