In June 2020, at Neurosurgeon Johns Hopkins Performed the organization’s first augmented reality operations on living patients. Doctors used six screws to attach three spines to a patient’s spine to cure persistent back pain using a headset by Israeli firm Ogmedix. The latter presents images of the patient’s internal anatomy, such as bones and other tissues, based on a CT scan, giving the surgeons much-needed X-ray vision. In the second case, physicians removed a malignant tumor from the spinal cord. According to doctors, both the patients are in good health.
These were just a few of the beginnings metaverse Experiments in Health care.
Close to home, health care major Apollo Hospital Group Partnered with California-based deep-tech start-up, 8chili Inc, to authorize patient involvement in metavars. It will facilitate pre / post-operation patient counseling through Virtual Reality (VR), increase patient engagement, and provide skills to healthcare staff for hands-on training.
Infinite possibilities
Due to the widespread adoption of AR / VR tech in the architecture, manufacturing and supercomputing industries, this gives us a glimpse into the endless possibilities of Metavers to restructure the healthcare domain. It’s early with metavars trends drawn towards gaming and the arts. But its role in bringing about change in healthcare cannot be underestimated as it engages Artificial intelligence, Virtual reality, augmented reality, Internet of Medical Devices, Web 3.0, Intelligent Cloud, Edge and Quantum Computing and Robotics. Think about telemedicine counseling by VR, patients attending Virtual Reality (VR) group therapy sessions, surgeons planning procedures on anatomical holograms, or pregnant mothers practicing breastfeeding techniques in augmented reality (AR). These reasons are enough to get excited.
In addition, Covid-19 has already boosted the healthcare consumer by conditioning them for new habits such as online delivery of drugs and online counseling.
Insurance in the virtual universe
Metavers rely on decentralized technology, especially those that allow individuals to move or sell their assets freely. Cryptocurrencies, NFTs (non-fungible tokens stored on blockchain), and other virtual objects can be considered as metavers assets. It is not unrealistic to assume that some insurance companies may develop cyber insurance to cover specific, non-physical losses and hacking, data theft and network disruptions in these categories.
At the same time healthcare companies should venture to create new business models aligned with patient health insurance, reimbursement and prescriptions in this new virtual universe.
Enables blockchain transparency
Metavers also represents blockchain technology that can address healthcare issues related to data security and health record management. In addition, it will play a key role in protecting data privacy in this industry.
As a result, blockchain in healthcare has the potential to bring better care, increased transparency in payments and administration, and greater security for all trusted parties. For example, when a transaction occurs in a blockchain, it is recorded and cannot be changed. According to the Web3 Foundation’s principles, where users own their data, the code for transparent payments will be accessible to everyone (who owns it). Insurance companies can use it to disclose their prices if needed.
Medical education And metavers
AR and VR are already transforming medical education and training, as well as procedures and procedures, as AR has existed for a few years to train medical students for surgeries such as removing blood clots, allowing them to learn by hand.
Meanwhile, VR allows them to enter the human body virtually, giving them a full perspective and allowing them to mimic natural treatments. More immersive experiences can be created for students based on actual surgery where they pretend to be surgeons themselves.
Brands taking advantage of healthcare
Digital-first health brands can stir up metavars by bringing a more personalized, optimized approach to care. Healthcare businesses can integrate themselves into a virtual metavers environment so they can provide customized patient experiences to individuals wherever they are. In addition, with the help of AR and VR technology, the brand can reach out to healthcare professionals around the world for demo and training. With the same technology they can make digital telehealth sessions more personal and humane.
But before that they need to identify what platforms and channels their customers are using, the support they are looking for and how the new technology meets the unmet needs.
Despite the vast scope of metavers in healthcare, there are constant challenges, especially around the tendency of people to seek treatment online and the similarity of access to VR devices (which are not cheap) such as headsets.
The availability of metavers provides scope for digital-first healthcare providers to innovate and address the complex challenges of accessing healthcare, affordable and improved outcomes for patients. That’s where the focus should be.
By Samar Kagalwala, Head of Marketing and Growth, Onsity
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the author only and ETHealthworld is not required to subscribe to them. ETHealthworld.com will not be liable for any direct / indirect damages to any person / organization)
