Summary:

In this first Acadicus Simulation Pulse Live of 2025, Jon Brouchoud, Bill Ballo, Mitch Luker, and Rick Castille discuss major trends in simulation, the evolution of VR in education, and new AI-powered tools that will shape the future of training. The conversation highlights how VR adoption is stabilizing and expanding, moving past the post-pandemic slowdown into a new phase of widespread implementation.

The group explores how hospitals and medical centers are beginning to embrace VR for cost savings and standardized training, using simulation to train healthcare staff across multiple locations without requiring physical presence. They also showcase a new feature in Acadicus—a state toggle tool that allows seamless patient transitions in real-time, eliminating the need for manual scene resets.

Episode Highlights:

VR Adoption in 2025: A New Phase of Expansion

• VR education is entering a new phase of stability, moving beyond the rapid boom of the pandemic and the slowdown that followed.
• Medical centers are increasingly adopting VR, as hospital mergers create a need for centralized, scalable training solutions.
• Budget planning in higher education is shifting to include VR, with more institutions integrating it into long-term training strategies.
• Madison College continues to expand its VR program, now reaching 26 programs and multiple campuses.

Hospitals Are Embracing VR for Cost Savings

• Merging hospital systems are looking for centralized training solutions to reduce costs and standardize protocols across locations.
• VR allows a single instructor to train multiple hospital locations remotely, reducing the need for redundant educators in every facility.
• High-fidelity mannequins are expensive and location-dependent, whereas VR training is cost-effective and scalable.

The Impact of AI on VR Training

• AI-driven voice recognition and object interaction will make VR training more intuitive and natural.
• Mixed reality advancements (like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses) are bridging the gap between physical and virtual learning.
• AI content generation tools may soon allow customized patient scenarios based on real-time student inputs.

New Acadicus Feature: State Toggle Tool for Real-Time Simulation Changes

• Instructors can now toggle patient states instantly, eliminating the need for scene reloads.
• Example: A fallen patient can be moved back to bed with a single button press.
• Medications can be pre-programmed to automatically adjust vitals, allowing students to see real-time effects of drug administration.
• Self-guided learning modules can now feature interactive quizzes where answers trigger changes in patient conditions.
• Reduces instructor workload, allowing more focus on student engagement rather than manual adjustments.

Predictions for 2025 in Simulation & VR

• Increased K-12 adoption of VR learning tools as technology becomes more accessible.
• AI-powered patient interactions will make VR training more realistic.
• VR will expand into new disciplines, including chemistry, aviation, and non-medical fields.
• Hospitals will implement VR for onboarding and continuing education, reducing costs and improving patient outcomes.

With VR simulation now firmly established as a critical training tool, 2025 is set to be a year of refinement, expansion, and deeper integration into education and healthcare. New tools like state toggling, AI-powered simulations, and remote VR training hubs are shaping the future of immersive learning.