Tech talk: Virtual care visits, simulation centers and 3-D interactive mapping

Mass General Hospital comes to reality in 3-D

The virtual, interactive map directs users around Mass General Hospital's campus and its surrounding area.

Photo courtesy of concept3D

Massachusetts General Hospital launched an interactive map and virtual tour platform built for patients, staff and visitors. The map, built by concept3D using its atlas3D platform, is navigable via desktop and mobile device and helps users to find their way to the campus, locate parking and get walking directions to their desired destinations.

Once on-site, users can use the map to view on-campus amenities as well as restaurants, hotels and amenities around Mass General. It even goes a step further by detailing wheelchair accessible routes and entrances, pharmacies, transportation and other locations.

Medical simulation center provides real-life setting and lifelike patients

Medical students at the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Health Sciences will benefit from a new simulation center that will open in the fall.

The center, which will train students in the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, is located in the university’s 84,000-square-foot A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Medical Academic Building currently being built.

Students will be immersed into a lifelike medical setting with a fully operational emergency department, operating room, intensive care unit, birthing suite and ambulance bay, giving them opportunities to practice procedures and necessary skills. Mannequins in the simulation center also mimic real life, with the ability to speak, perspire, blink, breathe, bleed and even give simulated birth to infant mannequins. 

Watch the video below to get a sense of the construction's wider impact on the OSU campus.

Grocery chain makes room for telehealth collaboration

Publix, a Southeast-based grocery chain, is anchoring itself deeper within its communities with a new health care partnership. The five-state grocer has partnered with Florida-based BayCare for a telehealth program set to launch in four counties: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk. Initially, the collaboration will include BayCare-branded telehealth sites in various Publix locations, BayCare screening stations in all Publix locations and Publix Pharmacies on-site at five BayCare hospital locations.

“This is a very exciting collaboration for both Publix and BayCare,” saya Fred Ottolino, Publix vice president of pharmacy operations. “Through this agreement, we will not only be able to provide BayCare medical expertise to Publix customers seeking nonurgent medical care, but we will also be able to bring Publix’s premier service to BayCare’s patients.”

The telehealth sites are located within private rooms fitted with teleconferencing and high-definition cameras, allowing patients to connect directly with a BayCare physician. The physicians will walk patients through using familiar medical diagnostic equipment, such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc., for taking vitals and diagnoses. Publix Pharmacy support staff will be available to assist patients if needed.

Publix and BayCare anticipate launching the finalized program within the next four months.