In the past technologies like augmented reality and virtual realitywere usually only associated with the gaming industry, which would enable users to experience multi-projected environments using their devices. However, more recently the introduction of these immersive technologies in healthcare has been revolutionary for the global healthcare industry.

Most of us have used one or another version of a healthcare app, either its fitness apps or virtual visits and stay-home check-ups with the doctor. Even though these technologies have been in the market for a while, people’s attitude about virtual care is still changing. According to research, 23 percent of patients have had a virtual visit with a doctor or nurse, and 57 percent of people who haven’t had a virtual visit are willing to try them.

However, AR and VR in the healthcare industry have gone far beyond the user-facing apps. In this blog, we will talk about how AR and VR technologies are transforming the healthcare industry.

What are AR and VR technologies?

Augmented Reality manipulates the real-world setting by adding digital elements to it, often using the smartphone camera. Few mainstream examples of AR would include Snapchat lenses and the Pokemon Go mobile game, as it makes changes to users actually environment.

On the other hand, Virtual Reality offers a completely immersive experience that has nothing to do with the user’s physical world. A VR headset would actually transport users into a new reality either imagined or from the real world.

However, another emerging technology in healthcare is the mixed reality, MR, which basically joins both and it’s most commonly associated with Microsoft HoloLens goggles.

Medical training

The delicate nature of surgeries requires surgeons to be meticulous and very keen while their patients are on the operating table. For obvious reasons, over the years, surgical procedures have tended to become more time-consuming.

However, a crucial part of their training is to shadow the surgeons at work, but as usually only two or three students are allowed inside an operating theatre at any given point, this leads to a big logistic problem.

Hence, the virtual reality technology makes a big impact in speeding up the training process. It enables the surgeons in training to increase their hours of practice, as now more of them can be part of the actual surgeries.

This was an inspiration for the digital healthcare startup, Medical Realities, their solution to this problem was to introduce VR in surgical training. They installed a number of cameras at different angles of the operating theatre to build a 360-degree view of the area. The medical students will only be required to wear a VR headset to join the high-pressure environment of the surgery and gain vital experience.

VR in pain relief

A while back the use of VR technology in healthcare was only limited to being a clinical tool for pain management. In the year 1996, researchers Hunter Hoffman and David Patterson from the University of Washington came with the idea to use this immersive technology in healthcare by helping to relieve pain through distraction.

This use of VR proves to be very effective in situations where patients have experienced extreme pain such as cancer, open wounds, burns, and broken limbs. At some point, there is a need for a distraction in the brain. An exhilarating diversion by VR can help in confusing the pain pathways that go into the brain and minimize the agonizing experience.

Moreover, the university’s HITLab and Harborview Burn Center in Seattle, has come up with SnowWorld, the first virtual world created with the purpose to help reduce pain. It’s particularly designed for burn patients. They become engrossed in the computer-generated icy adventure where all they need to do is throw endless amounts of snowballs at penguins and often it helps to distraction them from the pain.

Treatment of PTSD

Soldiers who have been through combat are likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, PTSD is not just limited to soldiers, this mental disorder can affect anyone who may have been through some petrifying experience like road accidents, physical or mental abuse or sexual assault.

AR and VR technology in healthcare can help recreate the specific scenes that trigger fear in a patient and before they are assisted in coping with their painful experience, they relive the memories to be able to gain control of their emotions. Many medical professionals use seemingly realistic scenes to treat PTSD and anxiety patients while ensuring them that they are now in a safer environment.

Furthermore, virtual reality can also offer a way for doctors to provide exposure therapy to patients suffering from paranoia by being fully in control of the environment they are exposing the patient to.

HoloLens brings AR in healthcare

Microsoft HoloLens is the first AR headset that helps build holograms of digital content in the real world. Even though the consumer take-up is quite slow, with a price of $3,000, but it has already been adopted in the healthcare industry.

The option of bringing a realistic image of brain or heart in the classroom, have it passed around, and examined in-depth, can make a big difference for medical students. On the other hand, surgeons can also use a hologram to prepare for long and complex operations.

This practice can really help improve the confidence of students in learning anatomy and give them a chance to make mistakes, which is the best way to learn but this is a privilege that is not often offered in medical field.

Therapy for differently-abled

AR and VR in the healthcare industry have made it a possibility for differently-abled people to experience the thrills of the world despite their physical conditions. These advanced technologies strive to improve their quality of life by enabling them to experience different environments that appear and feel real. For example, a person who is bound to a wheelchair can experience the joy of walking on a beach through VR.

Conclusion

As time passes, the need for quality medical professionals is only going to grow, luckily with technologies like AR and VR in the healthcare industry, have proven to be completely transformational. Moreover, as these technologies become more developed and widespread, it’s expected that AR and VR are well underway in disrupting the medical industry.

This article is contributed by Jane Collen, creative content writer and digital marketer at TekRevol

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