Oxford Medical Simulation vs Firsthand XR
The short verdict
Oxford Medical Simulation is an established clinical simulation platform with a broad healthcare library, and it runs on screens as well as headsets. If your program needs screen-based access for every student and a long list of reference institutions, it is a strong choice.
Firsthand XR is the better fit if you want trainees physically in a room-scale scene with a patient that reacts, mixed reality on Meta Quest 3 or HoloLens 2, and one platform that also covers first aid, mining, defence and EV trades.
Last checked 12 November 2026. Every claim about Oxford Medical Simulation links to Oxford Medical Simulation’s own public pages. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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Where Oxford Medical Simulation is strong
- OMS says it runs on screen (PC, laptop, Mac) and in VR headsets, which makes access easy for large cohorts.
- OMS describes an extensive library across nursing, medicine and allied health, written by clinicians.
- OMS lists a long set of academic and health system users on its home page.
Side by side
| Feature | Oxford Medical Simulation | Firsthand XR |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Describes itself as immersive, AI-driven VR healthcare training for academic institutions and health systems.[1] | Interactive VR and mixed-reality simulation for healthcare and high-risk industries. |
| Devices | Runs on screen (PC, laptop, Mac) and in VR headsets. Its FAQ lists Oculus Rift, Rift S and Meta Quest via Link, and says new headsets are added regularly.[2] | Meta Quest 3, PICO, PC VR and HoloLens 2. 6DoF, room-scale, with or without controllers. |
| Mixed reality | Not mentioned on the pages we reviewed.[1][2] | Yes. Passthrough mode places the scenario in your real room. |
| Feedback and debrief | Full automatic feedback, debrief and blended learning at the end of each scenario. Faculty can add their own debrief live or later.[2] | Every action is timed and scored, with a debrief at the end of each run. |
| Team play | Many scenarios are available in single player and multiplayer (interprofessional) modes.[2] | Team sessions with roles for headsets on the same network. |
| Library | Extensive library across nursing, medicine and allied health. No count published on the pages we reviewed.[1][3] | 13 scenarios available, 8 in the pipeline. See the scenario library. |
| Industries | Healthcare education and health systems.[1] | Clinical, first aid, mining and industrial, defence, and EV trades. |
| Regional content | Not described on the pages we reviewed.[1][2] | Regional packs for Australia, USA and Indonesia/Asia: uniforms, drug names, units, emergency numbers, ANZCOR or AHA. |
| Analytics and integration | Advanced analytics for competency tracking and enterprise-ready integration with existing systems.[1] | LTI 1.3, xAPI, a SCORM package and single sign-on, set up with your IT team during onboarding. Analytics are coming. No certifications claimed yet. |
| Pricing | Not published. Contact for a package.[2] | Not published. Pilot and site licence, quoted on a call. |
Choose Oxford Medical Simulation if
- You need students to run cases on laptops as well as headsets.
- Your program is healthcare only and wants a large existing library.
- Analytics and system integration are must-haves on day one.
Choose Firsthand XR if
- You want room-scale presence: walking around the bed, crouching, reaching, with or without controllers.
- You want mixed reality on Meta Quest 3 or HoloLens 2, alongside your manikins.
- You train more than clinicians: first aid, mining, defence or EV trades on one platform.
- You need Australian, US or Indonesian regional detail, or Indonesian language.
Questions people ask
Is Firsthand XR a replacement for Oxford Medical Simulation?
It can be, depending on what you use. If you rely on screen-based access or a scenario you cannot find in our library, OMS may still suit you better. Many programs use more than one tool.
Does Oxford Medical Simulation run in VR?
Yes. OMS says it runs on screen and in VR headsets. Check its FAQ for the current device list.
What does Firsthand XR do that OMS does not mention?
On the pages we reviewed, OMS does not mention mixed reality (passthrough) or regional packs. Firsthand XR supports both, plus non-clinical industries.
How did you compare them?
We used OMS’s own public pages, linked at the bottom of this page, and our own product facts. If anything here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Sources
- Oxford Medical Simulation, home page
- Oxford Medical Simulation, FAQ
- Oxford Medical Simulation, VR simulations for nursing
Product and company names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify their products. This page is our own comparison and is not endorsed by any company named. Information about other products is taken from their public websites on the date shown and may have changed.
See it in a headset
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