Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute is using virtual reality (VR) to plan complex heart procedures with greater precision. Recently, Dr. Neil Tailor and Dr. Umar Boston successfully performed a rare valve-in-valve replacement on a critically ill child using VR modeling, completing the procedure in under 30 minutes.

A Game-Changer in Cardiac Care

Le Bonheur is one of the few pediatric centers worldwide using VR to plan surgeries and cath lab procedures. VR allows cardiologists to manipulate a patient’s heart in a 3D environment, practice device placement and refine surgical strategies.

“Traditional imaging is like looking at drawings in a book,” said Dr. Tailor, founder of the Heart Institute’s VR Program. “With VR, we step inside the heart, improving accuracy.” By leading the charge in VR-based cardiac care, Le Bonheur is improving precision, efficiency and patient outcomes.

Real-World Applications

• Anomalous Pulmonary Vein Surgery: Boston used VR to locate a critical abnormal vein connection that was unclear on MRI. This preoperative insight altered his approach, saving time and improving outcomes.
• Heart Transplantation: VR now helps surgeons assess whether a donor heart will fit a recipient’s chest cavity, improving donor-recipient matching and surgical planning.

MLH transitioned to Epic in October 2024, implementing a state-of-the-art electronic health record (EHR) designed to enhance efficiency, improve communication and streamline patient care across MLH facilities and Epic-integrated healthcare systems.

Epic consolidates patient records into a single platform, granting patients real-time access to their medical records. At MLH, adopting Epic eliminated multiple patient portals and supported the introduction of MyChart—a user-friendly platform that allows patients to manage care easily.

“For today’s healthcare consumer, convenience, transparency and speed are critical,” said Monica Wharton, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “MyChart lets patients access their medical records, labs, test results, request prescriptions and more—all in one place.”

Beyond improving the patient experience, Epic supports enhanced provider efficiency. Structured documentation tools reduce manual entry, allowing clinicians to focus on care while reducing errors.

Patients are encouraged to sign up for MyChart to take full advantage of its capabilities.

Projections show the U.S. could face a shortage of 78,610 registered nurses by 2025, with Tennessee expected to meet only 72% of its workforce needs. In response, MLH is implementing a team-based model of care that strengthens clinical collaboration and maximizes the contributions of the entire care team.

This approach enhances the roles of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and patient care technicians (PCTs), enabling registered nurses (RNs) to focus on complex clinical decision-making, patient advocacy, and care coordination.

Key Components of the Team-Based Model of Care:

• Collaborative Care Teams: Each team includes an RN Clinical Lead, LPN, and PCT, working together to deliver comprehensive, coordinated care across a 12-patient unit.
• Expanded Roles for LPNs and PCTs: LPNs support patient assessments, documentation, and clinical care, while PCTs provide essential hands-on support and patient engagement. This structure empowers each team member to practice at the top of their licensure and training.
• Virtual Nursing Integration: Virtual nurses currently support approximately 60 patient transitions of care per day. Their primary focus is alleviating the administrative workload related to discharge processes and enhancing the patient experience by assisting with final education and instructions before patients leave the hospital.

Launched in 2019, the MLH Associate Advancement Program (MAAP) is a strategic workforce development initiative, creating structured career paths for entry-level Associates and addressing the healthcare workforce shortage. In partnership with the University of Memphis, MAAP provides financial support, education and training to help workers transition into advanced roles such as certified nursing assistants, registered nurses and surgical technicians. Since its inception, 161 Associates have graduated, with 64 new participants in 2024 alone.

Building on the program’s success, MLH introduced MAAP 2.0, expanding enrollment and adding financial literacy components. The updated program offers a ranking and rewards system—Bronze, Silver and Gold—each tied to cash rewards for completing courses on budgeting, debt management and MLH benefits.

“The courses were a big help to me financially,” said Maria Garcia, a MAAP 2.0 enrollee. “I’ve already met with the financial advisor who helped me build up my 401(k). I’m closer to retirement age and really needed that help.”

Required courses cover budgeting, debt management, emergency savings and MLH benefits. Optional courses offer tips on home buying, student loan repayment and retirement strategies.

“MAAP 2.0 equips graduates with essential financial knowledge to make informed decisions and secure their future,” said Dexter McKinney, MPPA, director of Workforce Development.

MAAP Associate Spotlight: Billie Ramirez

Billie Ramirez enrolled in a program to become a Limited Scope X-ray Operator but had to pause due to pregnancy. After MAAP introduced its Medical Assistant / Limited Scope X-ray certification, Billie completed it while balancing work, family and caregiving. Today, she works as an MA-X at Methodist Medical Group.

3DmD technology is transforming how Dr. Robin Evans, Le Bonheur Plastic Surgeon and Craniofacial and Cleft Program co-director, measures the faces of children with craniofacial conditions. Whether caring for a child with facial palsy or an infant with cleft lip and palate, 3DmD allows Evans to capture detailed 3D images of each patient’s face and head to improve surgical outcomes—essentially measuring these children’s smiles.

“Much of what we do as plastic surgeons involves both form and function,” says Evans. “With 3DmD, we can analyze symmetry and refine our approach for better results.”

3DmD uses visible light to capture 3D photos of patients. Surgeons can then measure distances, volumes and angles on a patient’s face, tracking changes in head shape and size with precision.

“With 3DmD, we’re not just restoring smiles—we’re restoring hope,” said Evans.

In 2024, MLH launched Workday—a digital platform designed to streamline internal processes, improve workforce engagement and enhance service efficiency. By reducing manual tasks and increasing self-service options, Workday transforms operations across HR, Finance and Supply Chain.

“Workday is more than an upgrade,” said Monica Wharton, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “It’s a vital tool for improving the Associate experience, scaling operations and ensuring operational efficiency, which ultimately benefits patient care.”