A Dose Of Reality

Augmented and Virtual Reality in Healthcare training.

The old days of medical training came with a worn copy of “Gray’s Anatomy” and dissection of cadavers. The future is 3D projections of the brain and musculoskeletal system and surgeries performed with assistance from smart glasses. As augmented and virtual reality in healthcare become more commonplace, the market could top $7 billion annually by 2025. The revolution begins with how medical professionals learn, and research shows that VR can improve student recall significantly. The use of augmented and virtual reality in healthcare can also speed learning and improve technique, which makes the technologies vital tools for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

SAFER SURGERIES

The adoption of AR and VR technology in medicine really got a jumpstart in 2015, when Dr Maksymilian Opolski of the Warsaw Institute of Cardiology in Poland began using Google Glass to help him in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in which surgeons open up clogged arteries. The technique traditionally relies on the use of contrast dye, which gives the surgeon a better look at blood flow in front of the blockage. By viewing CT images of a patient’s blood vessels in Google Glass, Opolski could also “see” behind the blockage, giving him a clearer picture of heart function. It also made life a little bit easier for the patients who experience vomiting, cramping, hives, or rash with the injection of contrast dye.