Photo courtesy of SimConverse
Sydney-based SimConverse has collected A$1.5 million (around $987,000) in a seed funding round led by Folklore Ventures, with participation from Artesian. Founded in 2020, SimConverse is a simulation platform that uses generative AI to play the role of any patient, colleague or casualty for healthcare communications training. It is made to be adaptable and customisable to suit the curriculum needs of learners.
According to a media release, the seed funding will be used to attract more users across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
SimConverse focuses on enhancing the verbal communication skills of learners at every level. It claims that ineffective communication among healthcare professionals contributes to medical errors and patient harm "with around 70% of medical errors attributed to communication breakdowns."
"Communication is the number one determinant of the quality of care a patient will receive. Without good communication you cannot treat, you cannot diagnose, and you cannot provide care," said CEO and co-founder Aiden Roberts.
Even the Department of Defence is also using VR to enhance the training of their combat medics. The VR-based Virtual Tactical Combat programme by first responder training company Real Response was recently launched with support from the Defence Innovation Hub. According to Alister Coleman, a partner at Folklore, one of SimConverse's investors, existing healthcare education simulation tools "lack effective training and breadth."
He said that they decided to invest in SimConverse as the platform equips medical professionals with skills to "engage in meaningful conversations" with their patients, and in turn, develop a "more holistic understanding of their well-being, reduce the risk of errors, and ultimately deliver better care."
Tags: SimConverse, Australia, communications, healthcare communications, conversation simulation, medical training, AI