Hopkins - Baylor Health Care System

Playing to WinBaylor studies gaming technology as a tool for improving communication and patient careEvEryOnE knOWS that misunderstandingscan cause trouble. Butmiscommunication in a health caresetting can lead to serious risks.That’s why researchers at Baylor HealthCare System are joining forces withUniversity of Texas at Arlington and theUniversity of Texas at Dallas (UTD) tostudy how physicians and nurses can usevideo game-like simulators to improvecommunication skills.“Miscommunication can lead tofailure in the delivery of safe care, so it’sextremely important to innovate anddevelop more effective ways to help ourclinicians improve their communicationskills,” says Yan Xiao, PhD, directorof patient safety research at BaylorHealth Care System. He is co-leadingthe Baylor research team with SusanHouston, PhD, RN, FAAN, NEA-BC,director of nursing research at BaylorHealth Care System.Although it’s similar in theory toa video game, the learning tool useseven more sophisticated technologyto create a simulated health careenvironment. Nurses and physicianswill engage in scenarios they mightencounter on the job, role-playing inreal time to appreciate the perspectivesof others.Participants will control and interactwith physician and nurse avatars andmaster interdisciplinary, patient-centeredcommunication skills. During thetraining, participants take turns playingboth roles.“We think this perspective-sharingwill be instrumental in helping cliniciansGet in the GameThis study isn’t open to volunteers,but to learn about research trialsat Baylor seeking participants,visit BaylorHealth.com/advancingMedicine.understand the best way to communicateinterprofessionally,” says Louann Cole,MHA, a research analyst for Baylor’sInstitute for Health Care Research andImprovement.Part of the research has involvedin-depth interviews with physicians andnurses, as well as an exhaustive reviewof communication strategies. Thisinformation was synthesized by gamedevelopers at UTD.“Effective communication techniquesare embedded in the game,” Dr. Houstonexplains. “You get points for usingthose techniques when you’re put intoa patient situation.”The researchers hope the three-yearstudy, which is funded by a grant fromthe Agency for Healthcare Research andQuality, will demonstrate the value ofthe technology.“This is a fun and engaging way tolearn,” Dr. Xiao says, “and we hope itwill help physicians and nurses workbetter as a team to serve patients.”6 Health@Memorial • hcmh.com