How VR & AR will transform the medical world

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have power and appeal for one simple reason – they create a world where the impossible becomes possible. Just imagine what that could mean for healthcare.

A transformation is about to, and arguably already is, taking place in the medical world. The world we think we know is shifting at an astronomical speed, as VR and AR make their way into health care and health tech.

Eugene Canavan, medical design director at Design Partners (part of PA Consulting), shares his expert insights with Health Tech World, indicating how these breakthrough technologies will “revolutionise” medicine and surgical procedures.

Here’s what he had to say:

“In recent years, augmented and virtual reality has transformed the medical arena, creating opportunities which are completely revolutionising medicine and surgical procedures.

These developments are moving at serious speed, with augmented and virtual reality in healthcare poised to become a $10 billion dollar market before long.

We’re seeing incredible things happen as a result of this rapid growth in VR healthcare technology. In August this year, a Great Ormond Street Hospital surgeon helped to successfully separate conjoined twins using virtual reality technology.

The family, living in Brazil, were initially told the surgery was not viable. However, VR made it possible for several top surgeons from around the world to practise the incredibly complex procedure remotely for many months, to ensure they would get it right. This is perhaps the most tangible and recent example of the incredible feats VR medicine proposes.

Throughout the pandemic, remote technology and virtual collaboration tools were widely adopted. As the global health crisis disrupted medical services around the world, the sector was forced to adopt virtual systems and accelerate telemedicine services.”

VR – a vital tool for surgeons

During this time, VR became a vital tool to ensure trainee surgeons were able to continue developing their skills. Oculus headsets helped mimic real-life surgical procedures and scenarios, accelerating the rate of learning for many students. It may seem odd to use tools and technology akin to gaming, but during a time of extremely limited in-person contact, they created an environment which allowed the next generation of surgeons to learn and grow their skills.[…]

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have power and appeal for one simple reason – they create a world where the impossible becomes possible. Just imagine what that could mean for healthcare.

VR – a vital tool for surgeons

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