Virtual Reality in Healthcare — Top 5 Uses

Virtual Reality or VR has been around for entertainment purposes for several years. However, it has recently taken on a more critical role in society. While games serve a purpose in life, new ways of using VR are set to improve the way doctors learn and treat patients dramatically.

Virtual Reality is still only beginning to explore what will eventually possible in healthcare. However, even in these early stages, projections are that the market size will reach $2,383 million by 2026. This technology is showing significant benefits for both medical professionals and patients alike.

Currently, the primary driver of growth with VR is VR sensors. As sensor usage is further explored in healthcare usage, this trend is expected to expand and grow even further.

Owing to how VR is used in healthcare, one primary technology segment that is expected to see significant growth in the coming years is the Projector and Display Wall segment. With the ability VR provides in creating 3D environments and virtual worlds, this technology can help simulate environments for multiple individuals simultaneously analogous to the Holodeck on Star Trek.

Worldwide, VR and its associated technology, Augmented Reality (AR), are set to grow exponentially in healthcare in the coming years. North America is currently leading the pack at around $477 million, followed closely by Europe at $311 million. However, by 2028 these numbers are set to change dramatically. By 2028, the value of the North American healthcare market will reach $4.64 billion, which is almost 60% higher than in Europe.

How VR is Used in Healthcare

Virtual Reality is still a relatively new technology, so all of the use cases for its deployment are yet to be explored. However, many individuals and companies have already realized that VR is capable of revolutionizing the way in which doctors and patients interact. Here are some of the ways in which VR will be used in healthcare in the future.

Simulation and Training

Surgeons and doctors have historically utilized cadavers and corpses in their training. However, many healthcare experts believe that VR is not only a suitable alternative, but it is also, in fact, superior as a training method. VR can provide surgeons with exposure to more issues and situations they would otherwise typically experience in training.

Using VR, training can be as close to the real thing as possible. Through the use of real cases and real trauma’s doctors can better understand the right methods of treatment in different circumstances. Training can include digital overlays for other parts of the room to better understand equipment. Training can also be used to recreate surgeries and provide views of parts of the human body not ordinarily accessible.

Physical Therapy and Neurological Rehabilitation

Patients suffering from strokes, brain, and spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases suffer from reduced neurological function. VR exercises have been designed that mimic games; however, in this case, the games are targeted at improving neurological pathways. These interactive exercises are not only more fun, but they also keep patients interested and engaged in their own treatments.

Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD)

Individuals who have PTSD are often impacted by the stresses of war and war zones. One of the treatments for this illness is having a patient relive some of those traumatic events. This is where VR can play a fundamental role. This fascinating treatment helps patients who have PTSD recreate the environments that led to the development of their illness. As the brain understands the situation in greater clarity, coping mechanisms can be applied to better allow the patient to deal with the stresses in the future.

Cognitive Training

People use their imagination daily to escape from real-life troubles and better cope with issues. Technology like VR and video games was often considered just another such escape. However, increasingly health professionals are looking at this technology as a way of meeting patients in a place they are comfortable with. VR helps make learning more interactive and enjoyable. Cognitive games can be targeted to focus on the patient and their specific issues.

Pain, Anxiety, and Distraction

This is possibly the most popular area of VR use in the treatment of patients. Here patients need to simply put on a VR headset. The headset will be preloaded with entertainment that can help remove the patient from the current environment. Some samples could include tourist attractions or even specific moments from history, or even more peaceful, a day at the beach. The patients will be fully immersed in VR with relaxing music, helping decrease stress and anxiety. This technology has been shown to be a suitable alternative to opioids leading to an overall improvement in mental health in some patients.

Conclusion

VR is an up and coming technology that is only just starting to make an impact on our world. However, despite its newness, it has already begun to make a positive impact on healthcare and healthcare education. Whether it is used in treatment or training, VR is quickly changing the future of medicine and patient care.

If you are looking to take advantage of VR in your practice and need help, contact us. At NIX, we understand how VR works and can help you build a system that meets your needs and requirements. Our team of developers and technicians know the best ways to use VR and can help ensure you are part of this cutting edge, new technology. Contact us to find out how we can help you with VR.