It's really here.
You’ve probably heard of augmented reality (AR) as the technology behind Pokémon Go, Snapchat filters, or Google Glass. But did you know that AR is also transforming the healthcare industry in ways that would make sci-fi writers jealous?
AR is the enhancement of the real-world environment with digital information, such as images, text, or sound. Unlike virtual reality (VR), which creates a completely immersive experience that blocks out the external world, AR allows users to interact with both the real and the virtual worlds at the same time.
This means that AR can provide healthcare professionals and patients with access to information, visualization, and guidance that would otherwise be impossible or impractical. From improving diagnosis and treatment to enhancing education and training, AR is making us superhuman in healthcare.
Don’t believe me? Here are some examples of how AR is already changing healthcare for the better.
AR Surgery
Imagine being able to see inside a patient’s body without making a single incision. That’s what AR can do for surgeons, who can wear AR headsets or glasses to overlay real-time information, such as patient data or imaging, onto their view of the patient. This can improve precision and accuracy during operations, as well as reduce complications and errors.
For example, in 2020, doctors performed the first-ever spine surgery using an AR head-mounted display. A 78-year-old patient was suffering from degenerative spine disease that required lumbar decompression and the insertion of several screws. Surgeons wore the FDA-approved AR headset to visualize the patient’s CT scan as they operated and placed the implants with 100% accuracy.
Since then, neurosurgeons have used AR for hundreds of surgeries. It’s even been speculated that all surgeries could be performed with AR. How cool is that?
AR Medical Visualization
Another way that AR can help healthcare providers is by superimposing visuals on patients that help deliver safer care beyond the OR. For example, when administering medicine, nursing staff can view an overlay of a body’s vein structure to more easily identify the right vein and avoid the sometimes painful process of trial and error.
AR can also help patients visualize how their bodies work, how a particular condition might affect their health, and even understand what specifically will happen during a procedure. With AI, such visualization can take into account a patient’s particular health data to personalize the experience for their situation.
This can help reduce anxiety and increase trust between patients and doctors, as well as improve adherence to treatment plans.
AR Patient Diagnosis
Sometimes, it’s hard for patients to describe their symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. To the extent that symptoms manifest visibly, AR can help. Through AR glasses, patients can visualize different skin conditions compared to their own in order to more accurately describe their concerns to doctors.
AR can also help doctors diagnose patients remotely, by allowing them to see what the patient sees through their AR device. This can enable telemedicine consultations that are more effective and convenient than phone calls or video chats.
For example, Google Glass has been used to help new mothers struggling with breastfeeding. By wearing the device, mothers can share their view with lactation consultants who can guide them through the process and offer tips and feedback.
AR Education and Training
Skilled medical staff is an asset for the healthcare industry and equally important is the need to constantly train professionals. AR comes across as an effective way of creating a highly engaging experience with different sensory inputs, aids retention and how well complex concepts can be grasped.
A key benefit of AR as a learning tool is that it creates a highly engaging, immersive educational experience which aids retention and ability to grasp complex concepts.
For example, medical students can use AR apps to learn anatomy by projecting 3D models of organs onto real bodies or mannequins. They can also practice surgical procedures by simulating realistic scenarios with virtual tools and feedback.
AR can also help train healthcare workers in emergency situations, such as CPR or defibrillation. For instance, there is an app that shows users where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are located nearby and how to use them in case of cardiac arrest.
The Future of Augmented Reality in Healthcare
As you can see, augmented reality in healthcare is not just a gimmick or a fad. It’s a powerful technology that has the potential to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance patient satisfaction.
But it’s not without its challenges. Data security, usability, regulation, adoption, and ethical issues are some of the hurdles that need to be overcome before AR can become mainstream in healthcare.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable. With continuous innovation, collaboration, and regulation, augmented reality in healthcare will be revolutionary.
What do you think? Are you excited or scared by the prospect of AR in healthcare? Do you have any personal experiences or opinions to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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