Dialysis Education Services (DES), IKONA, and Lifeliqe are excited to announce a collaborative study to evaluate the impact of Lifeliqe's virtual reality (VR) product on dialysis workforce training programs conducted by DES. This partnership aims to leverage evidence-based approaches to enhance workforce engagement, address critical staffing shortages, and prepare for new technologies in dialysis care.
In response to the global dialysis workforce challenges, DES, IKONA, and Lifeliqe are joining forces to explore the transformative potential of VR in educational settings. This partnership focuses on assessing the effectiveness of VR tools in improving training outcomes, with a particular emphasis on workforce engagement, recruitment, and retention.
By combining IKONA's expertise in patient education and Lifeliqe's cutting-edge VR technology with DES's extensive vocational training experience, the three companies are poised to transform how dialysis technicians are prepared for high-demand skills in complex care settings.
By combining IKONA's expertise in patient education and Lifeliqe's cutting-edge VR technology with DES's extensive vocational training experience, the three companies are poised to transform how dialysis technicians are prepared for high-demand skills in complex care settings.
Study Aims
The study will employ a rigorous assessment process, including pre- and post-lecture knowledge assessments and surveys that measure the impact of VR on participants' learning experiences, motivation and confidence levels. In addition, the study will examine training efficiency and effectiveness to determine time-in-training for VR- and non-VR-prepared cohorts.
- Evaluate Impact: Our comprehensive evaluation will utilize metrics such as skill proficiency scores, retention rates, and training duration to assess the effectiveness of Lifeliqe's VR tools within DES's training programs. We aim to demonstrate an increase in knowledge retention and a reduction in training time for VR-enabled participants.
- Address Workforce Challenges: This study will target critical workforce shortages by enhancing recruitment and retention strategies within the global dialysis workforce. By improving job satisfaction, career matching, and student engagement, we anticipate an improvement in staff retention rates at six months following training.
- Support Dialysis Staff: We will develop tailored strategies to prepare dialysis staff for new technologies and settings, including home dialysis. By equipping technicians with the skills needed for diverse environments, we aim to enhance patient care quality and staff readiness.
On the Record
"Vocational training has to catch up with the times; efficient transfer of knowledge is critical in building a workforce these days," said Michael Morales, CEO of Dialysis Education Services.
"We know how painful these training challenges can be for the dialysis industry, and the negative impact it can have on patient care and outcomes. This study marks the turning of a new page, allowing us to rewrite the narrative of how people think about dialysis careers, training, and access in this new era of care delivery since the pandemic," said Tim Fitzpatrick, CEO of IKONA.
"We are thrilled to partner with DES and IKONA. This collaboration brings cutting-edge VR simulation technology to dialysis training, helping ensure that students are not only technically skilled but also confident in their abilities. Together, we are opening up dialysis career paths to more people and setting new standards in workforce training," added Matouš Tlapák, CEO of Lifeliqe.
Why It Matters for Kidney Care
The dialysis industry faces unprecedented workforce challenges, with increasing demand for skilled technicians and the need for innovative training solutions that attract, prepare, and engage clinic staff. By focusing on evidence-based approaches and leveraging VR technology, DES, IKONA, and Lifeliqe aim to transform workforce training and address some of the industry's most pressing and costliest issues. This partnership highlights the commitment to empowering dialysis professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape.
Key Challenges
- More Patients Facing Kidney Failure: Around 360 people start dialysis every 24 hours in the United States. Over 130,000 people reach kidney failure each year in the US alone, with the vast majority transitioning from hospitals to one of 7,638 dialysis centers across the country.
- Skills Gaps in Cannulation: A significant skills gap exists in cannulation, with many technicians reporting the need for additional training. Comprehensive education and training opportunities are essential to help staff overcome these daily challenges and enhance patient care.
- Low Uptake of Home Hemodialysis: Despite its benefits, less than 2% of patients are on Home Hemodialysis (HHD) today due to barriers including cannulation fears and lack of adequate training. The availability of competent in-center and home training staff is crucial for patients to receive therapies like HHD.
- Dialysis Staffing Challenges: Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) are crucial to dialysis care and patient safety. However, staffing challenges persist, and turnover rates among PCTs continue to pressure recruitment and retention efforts. In a recent survey, only half of PCTs reported that they plan to be working as a dialysis PCT in 3 years.
- Staff-Assisted Home Dialysis: As dialysis care increasingly shifts to home settings, a significant barrier to adoption has been the lack of home support and staffed in-home models. By equipping and upskilling home staff, we can facilitate growth in home dialysis options and support care transitions, especially as payers begin to invest in these models.
With their focus on these critical areas, IKONA, DES, and Lifeliqe are committed to transforming dialysis training, empowering dialysis professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and succeed in their careers, and to improving the quality of patient care offered across dialysis settings.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2023. Available at: https://nccd.cdc.gov/CKD/Documents/CKD_FactSheet_2023.pdf
- U.S. Renal Data System, USRDS 2023 Annual Data Report. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://usrds-adr.niddk.nih.gov/
- Plantinga LC, Rickenbach F, et al. Professional Fulfillment, Burnout, and Turnover Intention Among US Dialysis Patient Care Technicians: A National Survey. Am J Kidney Dis. 2023 Jul;82(1):22-32.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2022.12.017. Epub 2023 Mar 9. PMID: 36906216.
- Barker, George. "More Education for Cannulating Staff Needed to Ensure Advances in Dialysis Access." Renal Interventions, 30 Jan. 2024, https://renalinterventions.net/more-education-for-cannulating-staff-needed-to-ensure-advances-in-dialysis-access/.
- Associated Press. “IKONA and Lifeliqe Partner to Bring XR Education and Training Solutions to U.S. Kidney Care Market” AP News. August 5, 2024. https://apnews.com/press-release/ez-newswire/dialysis-kidney-disease-dbdda60fd279fc40df36ea55968c72de
- Dialysis Education Services and Lifeliqe Partner to Train Vital Nephrology Workforce Through VR. Lifeliqe Blog, August 6, 2024. https://www.lifeliqe.com/blog/dialysis-education-services-and-lifeliqe-partner-to-train-vital-nephrology-workforce-through-vr
- Fitzpatrick T, Butt Q, Maddox T. Enhancing Home Dialysis Training and Retention through Interactive Virtual Reality. Nephrology Nursing Journal. 2023; 50(4):381-387. doi: 10.37526/1526-744X.2023.50.4.381. PMID: 37983546.
About Dialysis Education Services
Founded in 2009, Dialysis Education Services (DES) is a leading provider of specialized education and training for dialysis professionals, including nurses and technicians. As a board-certified vocational school, we have trained over 2,000 nephrology professionals, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for performance excellence, certification, and professional development. Our mission is to enhance patient health, quality of care, and quality of life through innovative and interdisciplinary education. We offer a range of services, including hemodialysis training, certification reviews, custom training programs, and continuing education for nursing professionals. For more information, visit dialysiseducationservices.com.
About IKONA
IKONA, Inc. is a learning platform trusted by over 250 clinics to improve outcomes for people with End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) using virtual reality and analytics. The company's expert team of clinicians, patients, scientists, and technologists are building a pipeline of evidence-based learning products across complex chronic areas, including End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Transplantation, Diabetes and more. IKONA is funded by the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, StartUp Health, On Deck, and NVIDIA, and was named a Top 200 EdTech Startup globally in the 2022 and 2023 GSV Cups. To learn more about the company's mission to launch 10 million personalized learning journeys by 2030, please visit http://www.ikona.health.
About Lifeliqe
Lifeliqe is the world’s leading workforce development and education tool for learning experiences in interactive 3D, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). Following its merger with 3D content publisher Corinth in 2023, the company is setting a new global standard for upskilling, reskilling, and workforce training across classrooms and clinics in more than 100 countries. Lifeliqe has partnered with leading nephrology vocational schools and nonprofits to create and scale dialysis and clinical staff training through a hybrid in-person and VR curriculum. For information about Lifeliqe, visit http://www.lifeliqe.com.
