Health & Health Technology
Applied Research Projects in Health & Health Technology are crucial for advancing health innovation, creating new knowledge for the health care system and improving patient outcomes.
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Through collaborative partnerships with postsecondary institutions, healthcare facilities, industry, and others, we work to enhance patients' quality of life. Our innovative research in student education and training aims to improve healthcare system capacity and outcomes. We are committed to developing a future-ready workforce, applying emerging health technologies, and advancing holistic and preventative care.
Join us in this journey of exploration and innovation, where we foster connections, trust, and a sense of belonging for all. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the future of healthcare.
Our Projects
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Virtual Reality (VR) Focused Assessment Tool
Timeframe:
to
Nursing programs often experience issues related to skill testing in the laboratory setting. Assessments rely on a 1:1 student/faculty ratio and they are often subjective.
Because assessments are often performed on fellow students who are usually healthy, it is highly unlikely that students will encounter abnormal findings prior to their clinical placements in a real-world setting. This often results in students feel less confident when serving a patient. This problem prompted the vision of a Virtual Reality Focused Assessment (VRFA) Tool.
How does this project help?
VR simulations provide nursing students with realistic clinical scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, allowing students to explore patient care from different perspectives. The scenarios immerse nursing students in interactive 3D environments that replicate hospital wards, operating rooms, and other health care settings. VR training enables students to make mistakes, receive immediate feedback, and refine their techniques in a supportive learning environment.
What are the outcomes?
Scenario development: ICOM Productions and Bow Valley College co-developed three new VR health assessment scenarios for cardiovascular and eye, ear, nose, and throat systems. This work supported the strategic vision of Bow Valley College in shaping the future of college education.
Student outcome: Results concluded that students’ self-perceived confidence levels significantly increased after experiencing VR scenarios. VRFA was fully integrated in our Practical Nurse curriculum. Around 750 students are using VRFA at our lab each year.
Partner outcome: ICOM, the industry partner, this project helped hone their business process. They ICOM gained in-depth experience in working successfully with a post-secondary institution.
Product commercialization: The project team leveraged BVC’s close relationships to open conversations with post-secondary institutions. The engagement that we experienced with other institutions is promising with significant interests generated around the product. ICOM will continue product marketing.
Health Care Aid Student Buddyship
Timeframe:
January 2023
to
June 2024
Health Care Aides (HCAs) are instrumental in delivering up to 80% of the direct care to older Canadian adults in long-term care or at home. They are the primary profession providing frontline care to our aging populations.
How does this project help?
During the final clinical placement, students in the College’s HCA Certification program step into the role of an HCA under the guidance of an industry HCA (buddy). BVC instructors observed that there are variations in guidance that students received across facilities. This is specifically influenced by the culture of the placement organizations, staffing burdens, and individual attitudes. This variability, coupled with the absence of standardized training for industry HCAs, is recognized as a hindrance to achieving optimal learning outcomes.
The research project is now complete, and the results presented to CLPNA, the project funder. Recommendations are to develop a standardized training/education for equipping HCAs with the skills needed for guiding students during clinical placement. HCAs come from extraordinarily diverse experience and educational background and the program should fit the needs.
Social Humanoid Robot as a Memory Aid for People with Dementia
Timeframe:
August 2022
to
August 2027
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 50 million people globally are living with dementia, with 10 million new cases reported annually. The total number is projected to increase worldwide, and there will be 82 million sufferers in 2030 and 152 million in 2050.
In Canada, as the aging population increases in number, we see more and more people living with dementia. According to national data (2020-2021), over 477,000 seniors live with diagnosed dementia in Canada.
Dementia is characterized by a loss of mental functions including memory, reasoning, and judgment, along with changes in mood, behavior, and communication abilities. These symptoms affect the daily activities of those afflicted and will increase the risk of isolation and the loss of independence. Currently, there is no cure for dementia and the community care management of people living with dementia is a major public health challenge. Although different countries are applying different approaches to address this issue, the common goal across all of them is to help patients live positively in their own homes as long as possible without compromising their quality of life (QOL) and safety.
How does this project help?
This study was designed to be undertaken in three phases. Phase I of the study is now completed. Outputs of Phase I include: identification and creation of a list of “use cases” and “tasks” which will be used to program Pepper (the robot) in Phase 2 and the prototype built will then be brought to the dementia community for their feedback.
Connect with us
Bow Valley College
345 - 6 Avenue SE,
Calgary, AB T2G 4V1
+1 403-410-1400
1-866-428-2669 (toll free)