Health sciences students at the British Columbia Institute of Technology are using 3-D virtual technology to study radiation therapy techniques.
The virtual environment training system is called VERT, short for Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training, according to a press release from the institute.
It is a large 3-D projection system that includes special goggles, a virtual linear accelerator (the x-ray unit used to treat cancer) and life-size visualizations of the human body.
The system helps students learn and practice radiation therapy techniques.
The new system was brought to BCIT through a partnership between the B.C. Cancer Agency, the London Drugs Foundation, the Envision Financial Community Endowment and the First West Foundation.
"We are very grateful to our partners for providing us with this sophisticated educational system," said Bill Dow, dean of the school of health sciences, in the release. "This hands-on learning is critical to improving students' confidence and technique as they help treat BC's cancer patients."
Nearly 60 per cent of all new cancer patients in the province undergo radiation therapy and almost all of those patients are treated by BCIT radiation therapy graduates working through the B.C. Cancer Agency, according to the release.
The virtual system helps students learn the movements, set-ups, and treatment procedures for radiation therapies in a safe environment without using hospital resources.
There are approximately 179,000 patients undergoing radiation therapy in B.C. every year, the release stated.
