Bringing Visions to Life: Hochschule Rhein-Waal and St. Bernhard Hospital Launch Joint Projects
The Faculty of Communication and Environment at Hochschule Rhein-Waal and St. Bernhard Hospital in Kamp-Lintfort have agreed to strengthen their collaboration to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. This partnership is part of the "Center for Assistive Technologies" project, funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), and aims to create new opportunities for leveraging local resources in innovative projects.
Project Participants (from left to right): Thomas Grünebaum, Mirco Musumeci (HSRW), Rudolf Leis, Josef Lübbers, Christian Ressel (HSRW), Nele Wild-Wall (HSRW), Rolf Becker (HSRW), Clemens Roeling, Anna Schäfer and Anne Helling
Professor Dr. Nele Wild-Wall (Psychological Methods and Neuro- and Gerontopsychology) highlighted the potential: "It quickly became clear how many opportunities can emerge by sharing local resources here in Kamp-Lintfort." Professor Dr. Christian Ressel (Ambient Intelligent Systems) added, "For students, whose curriculum includes a practical semester, the hospital provides valuable opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings."
Following productive discussions between university faculty and hospital representatives, nine project ideas were identified, with four now moving into the implementation phase. One of the first projects, "Eye-Tracking," will focus on analyzing surgeons' eye movements during operations to streamline processes and enhance surgical training.
Another project leverages artificial intelligence to standardize the setup of operating tables by surgical assistants, potentially reducing operation and anesthesia times. The nursing staff will also benefit from the collaboration: a voice-controlled assistance system is being developed to simplify mandatory documentation and complement the hospital's electronic patient records system.
Additionally, a new barrier-free wayfinding system will be developed to improve access to the hospital's emergency department. The analysis for this project will begin in the upcoming winter semester.
Despite the ambitious plans, both partners acknowledge challenges, particularly regarding data security and ethical considerations in the use of AI. Regular meetings will ensure that these projects progress successfully.