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Virtual Reality Training Model Aims to Transform Workplace Safety in Health Care

Virtual Reality Training Model Aims to Transform Workplace Safety in Health Care 1024 683 Madison Storm

A virtual reality (VR) training module developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, called DEFUSE, which stands for De-escalate Effectively, Foster Understanding, Safeguard Environments, is setting a new standard for workplace violence prevention in health care settings. Funded by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the project equips health care professionals with critical skills in situational awareness, de-escalation and self-regulation — tools essential for navigating potentially aggressive encounters safely and effectively.  

Led by Tensing Maa, MD, FAAP, medical director of the Simulation Program, DEFUSE was developed by a team of behavioral health educators, digital health researchers and interactive media developers from the IT Research & Innovation team. After two years of development, the team launched both a VR and a screen-based version, as well as a fully immersive multiuser VR scenario developed in collaboration with SimX, an external simulation company.  

Unlike traditional training methods, DEFUSE features four interactive, case-based scenarios that place users in realistic, high-pressure health care environments where they interact with motion-captured avatars that respond in real time. Each scenario is followed by a debriefing and is designed to sharpen decision-making, build confidence and enhance situational awareness.  

“Health care workers face risks of workplace violence,” says Dr. Maa. “This training gives them a safe, scalable way to practice and prepare for those moments before they happen.” 

Key features of the training include:  

  • Situational Awareness: Learn to recognize early warning signs of aggression and respond proactively. 
  • De-escalation Techniques: Practice verbal and non-verbal strategies to calm patients and prevent escalation.  
  • Team Dynamics: Learners can choose to experience the scenario as the patient or as an observer, offering insight into how health care communication may feel to an agitated patient and fostering empathy.  

The module also integrates emerging technologies such as gaze tracking, which monitors where users focus during simulations, and data-driven feedback tracks reaction times and missed cues to refine performance. Scenarios are customizable to fit a range of clinical settings, from pediatric care to behavioral health.  

After DEFUSE received the Workforce Safety Innovation Grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the training module has continued moving forward, and Nationwide Children’s has now begun distributing the screen-based version to other hospital sites and external organizations across Ohio. With multi-platform compatibility and flexible access, the training is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing health care systems.  

“This is more than just a training tool — it’s an investment in the future of health care safety,” says Dr. Maa. “We’re proud to help usher in a new era of workplace violence prevention.” 

 

For more information on DEFUSE, please visit NationwideChildrens.org/AvailableTechnologies.

About the author

Senior Strategist, Research Communications | Website

Madison Storm is the Senior Strategist of Research Communications at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She earned her bachelor's in multimedia journalism from Virginia Tech in 2021 and went on to achieve her master's in health communication from Johns Hopkins University in 2023. Her passion for transforming the complex to clear is supported by various experiences writing for consumer audiences.

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