Introduction to Virtual Reality in Healthcare
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the event and use of telehealth services, however the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken it a step further by incorporating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into clinical care. Currently, nearly 50 sites are utilizing these technologies to boost patient care and treatment.
The Role of Extended Reality in Healthcare
Dr. Ryan Vega, the VA’s Diffusion of Excellence Lead, explained that the VA is using prolonged reality (XR), which incorporates AR and VR, for various purposes resembling training, patient education, pre-surgical planning, and distant care. According to Vega, traditional training methods aren’t any longer sufficient, and the VA is reimagining recent sorts of training and non-traditional courses. This approach is enabling the VA to bring healthcare into the longer term.
Advancements in Remote Surgery
Vega highlighted the potential of distant surgery, where a surgeon could be transported to an operating room remotely and experience the sights and sounds of the surgery in real-time. This is made possible through telepresence, haptics, and biosensors, which enable surgeons to feel what one other surgeon is feeling in a distinct location. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the best way surgeries are performed and make distant healthcare more accessible.
Partnership and Technology
The VA has partnered with Microsoft, Verizon, and an organization that has developed advanced computer spatial technology. This partnership has enabled doctors to convert MRI or CAT scans into holographic images, which could be layered over a patient’s body to plan surgery. This technology is made possible by 5G, which provides shorter latencies and more capabilities than traditional Wi-Fi.
The Future of Healthcare
Vega emphasized the importance of 5G in enabling technologies like VR and AR. He noted that the evolution of those technologies and the event of recent infrastructure will enable the reimagining of healthcare delivery. The VA is concentrated on understanding the implications of those technologies and the information and infrastructure required to support them. The goal is to shape the longer term of medication not only for veterans but for everybody.
Conclusion
The use of virtual reality and augmented reality in healthcare is a major step forward within the delivery of clinical care. The VA’s efforts to include these technologies into its services are paving the best way for a future where distant healthcare is more accessible and effective. As technology continues to evolve, it is probably going that we’ll see much more revolutionary applications of VR and AR in healthcare, leading to higher outcomes for patients and more efficient delivery of care.
