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VR & AR In Medicine

VR Healthcare: How Virtual Reality Opens Up New Perspectives

VR forever transforms the patient experience and makes healthcare more accessible and efficient.

VR Medicinal

Virtual Reality Medical

For More Efficient And Precise Diagnosis And Treatment

Both trainee and practising doctors can benefit from integrating VR and AR into their training. By being able to practice and learn on virtual patients, medical staff can improve their skills and increase the quality of patient care. After all, doctors often need not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on experience to successfully perform complex medical procedures. However, in the traditional medical education process, prospective physicians are often limited to observing treatments in real clinical settings or participating in practical exercises with real patients.
 

Virtual Patient Simulations

This is where VR and AR come in. Virtual patient simulations allow doctors to practise in different learning scenarios and practice their skills in a safe environment.
 

Better Quality Of Training

By using VR, trainee doctors can, for example, perform surgical procedures on virtual patients before they are in an actual surgical situation. They can practice different techniques and procedures, make mistakes and learn from them without risking real patients. 
 

Real-time Information

AR also allows medical professionals to access real-time information and virtual tools during patient care. For example, relevant medical data, images or instructions are superimposed on the clinician's field of view as they interact with patients.

What Is VR Medical?

VR Learning simulates a virtual environment in which users can interact with digital objects and experience various scenarios. VR has emerged as a powerful tool in healthcare to enhance medical training, patient care, and therapy.

By immersing medical professionals and patients in lifelike simulations of medical procedures, diagnoses, and treatments, VR enables them to gain new insights, improve their skills, and achieve better outcomes.

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Did You Know…?

Top 3 Industries

Healthcare is among the top 3 industries of leading adopters of VR technology up to 2025 (Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research)

82 %

of healthcare professionals know that VR is perfect to access and learn information for medical students (Accenture)

62 %

of patients welcome VR healthcare services as an alternative to traditional healthcare (Accenture)

How Is VR Healthcare Used?

VR in healthcare refers to the use of computer-generated, three-dimensional environments or simulations to enhance medical treatments, training, and education to prevent illness and promote health. It is a technology that allows users to interact with a computer-generated environment that simulates real-world experiences, providing a sense of presence and immersion.

Education and Awareness

It can be used to educate individuals on healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and health risks. For example, immersive VR experiences can be used to simulate the effects of unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, demonstrating the impact on one's health over time.

Behavioral Changes

VR can motivate individuals to make positive changes in their behavior, such as increasing physical activity or healthy eating habits. Examples might be virtual walks in a scenic environment or a virtual cooking class that promotes healthy eating.

Stress Management

Virtual environments that promote relaxation, such as natural environments or guided meditation, can help individuals reduce stress levels and improve their overall well-being.

Mental Health

Simulating scenarios that trigger anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions help individuals to learn coping mechanisms and practice stress management techniques in a controlled environment.

Remote Health Monitoring

Remote health monitoring by tracking vital signs and other health-related data in real-time can support patients and healthcare providers detect early warning signs of illness, allowing for early intervention and prevention.

vr healthcare

What Does Care 4.0 Stand For?

Care 4.0 is a term used to describe the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), VR Healthcare, and other digital innovations into healthcare services. It is the next phase of healthcare transformation that builds on previous healthcare revolutions, including Care 1.0 (traditional medicine), Care 2.0 (e-health), and Care 3.0 (personalized medicine).

In Care 4.0, advanced technologies are used to enhance patient care, improve clinical outcomes, and increase efficiency in healthcare delivery. For instance, AI can be used to analyze patient data and provide personalized treatment recommendations, while IoT can be used to remotely monitor patients and collect real-time data about their health.

VR is a technology that is being integrated into healthcare services to provide immersive experiences for patients and medical professionals.

More Personalized Care

Overall, Care 4.0 represents a significant shift in how healthcare services are delivered, focusing on using advanced technologies to provide better patient care, improve clinical outcomes, and increase efficiency. By leveraging these technologies, healthcare providers can provide more personalized care tailored to each patient's individual needs, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for all.

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Massive Benefits Of Using Virtual Healthcare

One of the main benefits of VR healthcare is its ability to provide hands-on training without risking patients' safety. Medical professionals can practice surgeries, procedures, and treatments in a virtual environment, making mistakes without consequences and repeating until mastery.

1. Improved Medical Training

VR can provide a safe and controlled environment for medical students and professionals to practice various procedures and surgeries without risking patient safety. This can help improve medical training as well as education 4.0 and ensure that medical professionals are better prepared to handle complex procedures and situations.

2. Enhanced Patient Care

VR might improve patient care by providing patients with immersive and engaging experiences that help them understand their conditions and treatments better. VR can also help reduce pain and anxiety during medical procedures, improving patient comfort and satisfaction.

3. Better Patient Outcomes

Helping medical professionals improve patient outcomes by enabling them to practice and refine their skills in a virtual environment is a major advantage. This can lead to better outcomes for patients, reduced complications, and faster recovery times.

4. Reduced Costs

VR helps reduce costs in healthcare by providing a more cost-effective way to train medical professionals and conduct research. Furthermore, it might also help reduce the need for certain medical procedures, such as sedation during painful procedures, which can be expensive and have side effects.

5. Improved Research

Conducting research on human behavior, cognition, and perception with the help of VR, provides researchers with valuable insights into how people interact with the world around them. This results in improving our understanding of various medical conditions and developing new treatments and therapies.

VR Medincine

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Better Performance

Medical students who trained using a VR simulator performed significantly better in surgery than those who did not receive VR medical training. (Academic Medicine Journal)

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Less Pain & Anxiety

Patients who received VR distraction during a procedure reported significantly less pain and anxiety than those who received standard care.

(Journal of Medical Internet Research

Challenges Of Virtual Reality In Healthcare

While Virtual Reality has many potential benefits in healthcare, it also faces some challenges:

Possible Challenges

Costs

VR technology can be expensive, and implementing it in healthcare settings may require significant investment in hardware, software, and training. Additionally, VR simulations may require specialized medical expertise to develop, which can also add to the cost.

Acceptance

Some medical professionals may be skeptical of using VR in their practice, while patients may be hesitant to try VR therapy or use VR for patient education. Additionally, there may be concerns about the safety and effectiveness of VR in certain medical applications.

The Solution

VR & AR Starter Package

Our VR & AR Starter Package provides financial support with VR glasses, pre-installed software, and full onboarding for VR simulation development.

User-friendly Design

Comprehensive training and education campaigns can inform medical professionals about the advantages and benefits of VR. A user-friendly design helps to take full advantage of the benefits of VR for treatment and patient care.

VR Medical

 

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As we have learned, one of the biggest advantages of VR in healthcare is its potential for patient education and therapy, supporting them to understand their conditions, treatments, and possible outcomes.

In order to so, practicing nurses, doctors and other medical staff can use Virtual Reality via:

Head-Mounted Display

You have likely seen one of these before and HMDs are those big, heavy-duty glasses with earphones attached to them. Needless to say, this provides a surround-sound and visual experience.

Smart Tech Glasses

Smart glasses might look like regular glasses, but they display information that enables a physician to add critical data to the patient’s electronic health record. We have also witnessed prototype models which should also allow these glasses to use similar features to the headset mentioned above.

Desktop Virtual Reality

Mostly used for training, desktop VR technology is an effective way to simulate complicated programs and procedures.

Haptic Gloves & Treadmills

Users can physically move around inside the virtual reality experience and move objects with these incredibly smart gloves.

How Is Virtual Reality Used In Medicine?

Using Virtual Reality can range from medical training and education to patient care and therapy. Here are some of the most common use cases of VR in medicine:

Enhanced Medical Education & Training

VR can provide a safe and controlled environment for medical students and professionals to practice various procedures and surgeries without risking patient safety. For example, VR simulations can be used to train surgeons in laparoscopic surgeries or to practice interventional cardiology procedures.

Improved Patient Education

Medical VR can provide patients with immersive and engaging experiences that help them understand their conditions and treatments better. Patients can use VR simulations to see how their bodies work and how a specific treatment would affect them, leading to more informed decision-making and improved patient outcomes. For example, a patient with a heart condition can use a VR simulation to see how their heart works and understand how a specific treatment would affect it.

Better Pain and Anxiety Management

VR can help distract patients from pain and anxiety during medical procedures, reducing the need for sedation and improving patient comfort. For example, a patient undergoing chemotherapy can use a VR headset to escape into a calming virtual environment during the procedure.

Advanced Rehabilitation

VR is used to provide immersive and engaging rehabilitation exercises for patients with physical or neurological conditions. VR simulations simulating real-life scenarios and movements that patients need to regain mobility and function lead to faster and more effective rehabilitation. For example, a stroke patient can use a VR simulation to practice arm movements and improve motor function.

Innovative Therapy

VR can be used to provide exposure therapy for patients with phobias, anxiety disorders, or PTSD. For example, a patient with a fear of flying can use a VR simulation to gradually expose themselves to flying scenarios in a safe and controlled environment.

Cost-Effective Research

VR might be used to conduct research on human behavior, cognition, and perception. For example, researchers can use VR to study how people react to different visual stimuli or how they navigate through a virtual environment.

Telemedicine

Medical VR in telemedicine enables remote diagnosis and treatment of patients. VR simulations provide medical professionals with an immersive and detailed view of a patient's condition, enabling them to make more informed decisions about diagnosis and treatment.

Medikamentenentwicklung und Training im Pharma-Bereich

Virtual Reality kann im Pharma-Bereich die Medikamentenentwicklung beschleunigen indem es virtuelle Tests und Simulationen ermöglicht. Es ermöglicht auch Schulungen für Pharmamitarbeiter, um komplexe Verfahren und Abläufe zu erlernen und zu üben. 
vr medical

Virtual Reality For Mental Health Professionals

VR Therapy provides an immersive and engaging experience for patients that was previously unimaginable. The use of virtual mental health has been gaining popularity among mental health professionals due to its ability to provide a safe, controlled, and cost-effective environment for patients to confront their fears and anxieties. VR therapy can be tailored to the specific needs of individual patients, enabling mental health professionals to provide personalized therapy that is more effective.

In a world where the demand for mental health services is on the rise, Virtual Reality Therapy provides a breakthrough that can help bridge the gap between patients and mental health professionals. VR therapy is particularly beneficial for patients with phobias, anxiety disorders, or PTSD, as they can gradually expose themselves to triggering stimuli in a safe and controlled environment.

Safe & Controlled

VR provides a safe and controlled environment for patients to confront their fears and anxieties. This can be especially beneficial for patients with phobias, anxiety disorders, or PTSD, as they can gradually expose themselves to triggering stimuli in a safe and controlled environment.

Tailored Therapy

VR simulations are a perfect tool to tailor to the specific needs of individual patients, enabling mental health professionals to provide personalized therapy that is more effective. For example, a patient with social anxiety disorder can use a VR simulation to practice social interactions and improve their social skills.

Quantitative Data

VR provides quantitative data that mental health professionals can use to assess the effectiveness of therapy. VR simulations can track a patient's movements, heart rate, and other physiological data, providing mental health professionals with valuable insights into how the patient is responding to therapy.

Remote Therapy

VR provides a cost-effective way to provide therapy to patients, especially in remote or underserved areas. VR therapy can be delivered through a VR headset, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming travel to a therapist's office.

vr therapy

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What About Augmented Reality In Medicine?

Augmented Reality has been transforming the field of medicine for years, providing a unique way to visualize, interact, and understand medical data. With AR training, medical professionals can overlay digital information on top of real-world images and objects, providing a new level of insight into complex medical procedures and anatomical structures. As a result, AR is becoming an increasingly popular tool in medical education, patient care, and surgical planning.


1

Surgical Planning

In 2018, surgeons at the University of Calgary planed and performed a complex spinal surgery on a patient with scoliosis using VR. Using AR technology, the surgeons were able to visualize the patient's spinal deformity in real time, creating a detailed 3D model of the spine that could be used to plan the surgery. By using AR, the surgical team was able to perform the procedure with greater accuracy and precision, ultimately improving the patient's outcome.

2

Medical Education

In 2019, Case Western Reserve University launched an AR medical education program that provides medical students with an immersive and interactive way to learn about anatomical structures and medical procedures. The program uses AR to create interactive simulations that allow students to visualize and manipulate virtual anatomical structures in real-time, providing a more engaging and effective way to learn.

3

Real-Time Guidance

In 2020, surgeons at the Johns Hopkins Hospital used AR to perform liver surgery on a patient with cancer. Using AR technology, the surgical team was able to overlay a 3D model of the patient's liver onto the patient's body, providing real-time guidance during the procedure. This enabled the surgical team to perform the procedure with greater accuracy and precision, ultimately improving the patient's outcome.

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Explore The Latest VR Healthcare Technologies With 3spin Learning

We stand at the forefront of VR and AR healthcare technologies, providing medical professionals with innovative and impactful solutions that are transforming the way medical education and patient care are delivered.

Our award-winning VR learning platform 3spin Learning is a leading provider of Virtual and Augmented Reality solutions for healthcare training and education. Our VR healthcare software is designed to provide medical professionals with a more engaging and effective way to learn and practice complex medical procedures, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Pfizer VR Training

Pfizer stroke training for doctors via virtual reality

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Pfizer Stroke Training With VR

One of our latest VR healthcare technologies is the VR Stroke Training we developed together with pharmaceutical company Pfizer enabling physicians to practice life-saving stroke treatment procedures in an interactive role-play. This allows doctors to safely practice what they previously have learned in theory and get direct feedback on their behavior – from anywhere and without the need to occupy busy hospital rooms.

Controlled Environment

This way, Pfizer guarantees a safe and controlled environment for medical professionals to practice various procedures and scenarios, improving the quality and safety of medical care.

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The Bottom Line

From training medical professionals to improving patient outcomes, VR is taking healthcare to new heights. VR and AR allow medical professionals to simulate complex surgeries, procedures, and treatments in a safe and controlled environment, providing them with a unique training experience that is more effective than traditional methods. Medical professionals can hone their skills and gain experience in various medical situations that may be difficult to recreate in a real-life setting. As a result, medical professionals are better equipped to handle challenging situations and provide high-quality care to their patients.

Overall, the integration of VR technology in healthcare is providing medical professionals with new tools to improve patient outcomes and increase access to healthcare, taking healthcare to new heights.

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