VR Training for Ambulance Personnel

Training ambulance personnel to take on the role of Health Incident Commander traditionally requires large-scale emergency exercises involving healthcare services, police, and fire and rescue teams. These exercises demand significant resources, making it difficult to provide all personnel with regular hands-on training.

Through Testbed Vestre Viken, Prehospital Services (PHT) collaborated with a technology company to explore whether virtual reality (VR) could provide a realistic and effective training alternative.

Developing a VR training solution

The project combined clinical expertise with technology development. PHT contributed operational procedures, professional knowledge, and detailed descriptions of how emergency incidents are managed in practice. Developers participated in ambulance exercises and observed daily operations to ensure that the VR solution reflected real clinical workflows.

Testing the solution in practice

The VR solution was developed through an iterative process in which ambulance personnel tested the application throughout development. Continuous feedback from healthcare professionals helped refine the solution and ensured that it met the needs of end users.

Building knowledge through real-world collaboration

The project demonstrated that VR could provide realistic training for Health Incident Commanders. The testing generated valuable knowledge about the opportunities and limitations of VR technology and provided a stronger basis for future investment decisions and procurement requirements.

"This is not something we could have developed on our own. Healthcare professionals need to define their needs, while the private sector can develop solutions. Together, we can create tools that actually work in real-world healthcare services."

Jan Richard Figenschou, Chief Innovation Officer, Prehospital Services, Vestre Viken HF

Supporting future healthcare innovation

The collaboration illustrates how Testbed Vestre Viken enables healthcare providers and technology companies to co-develop and evaluate innovative solutions in realistic settings. By combining clinical expertise, iterative testing, and structured collaboration, the testbed model creates valuable knowledge for both healthcare organizations and industry while supporting the development of solutions that address real operational needs.