Virtual reality in healthcare: from concept to clinical practice

Current VR applications in healthcare

Although medical VR is a relatively new field, healthcare professionals have already explored and applied this next-generation technology in a number of cases, resulting in significant advancements. Here are the primary examples.

Medical training

Unlike in a video game where you can restart a level after failing, doctors do not have a second chance to replay a situation if something goes wrong.

Fortunately, VR solutions facilitate total immersion in completely new environments where boundaries do not exist. This allows novices to acquire practical mastery alongside theoretical knowledge and enables seasoned doctors to repeat experiences and sharpen professional skills without fear of harming a patient. In addition, the virtual environment allows them to experience an unlimited number of scenarios they might encounter in their practice.

Leading medical schools and hospitals, such as George Washington University, are already leveraging VR to examine the anatomy of the human body, conduct surgical training, observe what happens during different physiological processes, practice different scenarios (e.g., resuscitation), and much more.

VR-based medical imaging

Medical imaging revolutionized medicine, providing doctors and scientists with visibility into the processes inside biological systems, particularly within the human body. This discovery also enabled caregivers to diagnose tumors, fractures, vascular diseases, or other abnormalities before symptoms appear.

VR moves medical imaging further, allowing for detailed 3-D visualization of organs, tissues, and bones. This helps doctors understand complex spatial relationships within the body, which is particularly beneficial in planning surgeries or treatments.

VR also enables clinicians to examine medical images from any angle and zoom in to see specific areas of interest. This can improve diagnostic accuracy, allowing for earlier detection of abnormalities and more effective monitoring of disease progression.

Rehabilitation

VR tools are particularly effective in the rehabilitation process for patients recovering from musculoskeletal disorders, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, cerebral palsy (CP), and other conditions. VR can recreate real-life activities, helping patients regain strength and coordination. For example, some children with CP cannot hold an object with their hands. The brain’s plasticity, along with VR technology, allows physicians to outsmart nature by forming new associative connections and enabling other parts of the brain to take over the impaired function. Under the supervision of a doctor, the child can reach and grasp objects in the virtual environment. The brain memorizes these movements and gradually develops motor capacity. In this way, VR not only offers the child an active learning experience but also engages them with an interesting game and boosts motivation.

Phantom pain management

Amputees often feel pain in a limb that is no longer there because the brain continues to anticipate movement and sensory feedback from that area. This type of pain is believed to be caused by a mismatch between expected and actual feedback during movement.

Advanced VR solutions can help patients suffering from phantom pain by simulating the missing limb. With VR headsets and motion sensors, patients play a computer game, using their limbs to navigate a virtual world. Motion sensors track the movement of their residual limbs to create and control the missing limb. The premotor cortex uses the realistic image of the missing limb generated by the medical software and gives the patients the “feeling” of the amputated limb, thereby tricking the brain and reducing the pain caused by the mismatch.

Chronic pain management

VR technology can be used for chronic pain relief, reducing opioid use that carries serious dependency risks. VR methods often incorporate the cognitive behavioral therapy method, but unlike the latter, can be used at home. VR offers a multisensory experience that engages patients on a deep level and helps them feel good. Patients don headsets and immerse themselves in artificial environments, which distract them from pain and build a foundation for pain relief.

Mental health

VR can have dramatic results in treating various mental health conditions, including phobias, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. It’s important to note that VR doesn’t replace traditional methods, but rather complements them.

VR’s ability to transport individuals outside the physical world into more controlled immersive environments helps individuals reduce fears, improve confidence, reflect on past situations, and more. A VR simulation can help individuals gradually become accustomed to the object of their fear and realize that it poses no threat. For example, a person traumatized by a car crash can safely experience public streets in the VR environment to confront their fear of traffic.

Hurdles and limitations

With all its benefits and almost limitless possibilities, VR technology has yet to be widely adopted due to several significant challenges that must be addressed. Among them are:

• Up-front investment. Developing and maintaining VR infrastructures, including hardware and software, is financially demanding and requires significant investments. Additionally, training medical professionals to use these systems adds another layer of expense that can discourage healthcare organizations from implementing VR. However, it is worth noting that the long-term benefits outweigh all these expenses, including cost-effectiveness over time.
• Data safety. VR apps can involve the collection of sensitive patient data, which makes compliance with privacy regulations paramount. Complicating matters is the fact that the rapid evolution of VR technology has outpaced the development of regulatory standards and guidelines to ensure that VR technologies are used appropriately and safely in medical education and practice.
• Communication. One significant concern is the potential reduction in direct interaction between patients and healthcare providers. This reduction can impact the quality of interpersonal skills and bedside manner, which are crucial in medical practice.
• Resistance to change. Some patients may be hesitant to use computers and new technologies, which should be considered before starting treatment. Meanwhile, doctors unfamiliar with IT and lacking the necessary skills may resist using VR solutions. To address this, it is crucial to conduct lessons to train employees how to use this technology and explain the benefits they can derive from it.

VR trends and perspectives

Looking ahead, the future of VR in healthcare industry seems to be bright and full of possibilities. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect more innovative use cases that will enhance medical training, improve patient care, and foster better communication and empathy between healthcare professionals and patients.

Telehealth

One of the most promising applications of VR is telemedicine. The integration of this technology can assist medical organizations in addressing numerous telehealth challenges. It can be used to conduct seamless virtual meetings, interactive workshops, and immersive brainstorming sessions, allowing clinicians from remote locations to collaborate while examining patients’ records as if they were all in one place. When combined with AI-powered computer vision for visual analysis and identification, these technologies can elevate virtual healthcare communication and surpass those of standard in-person appointments.

Haptic technology

By incorporating tactile sensations, haptic devices can provide realistic simulations for medical training and patient treatment. Surgeons can practice complex procedures in a virtual environment, feeling the resistance of tissues and organs as they would in a real surgery.

For patients, haptic feedback can be used in physical therapy, allowing them to interact with virtual objects and receive immediate sensory feedback, making rehabilitation more effective and engaging.

Synergy of Internet of Things (IoT), AI, and VR

In combination, IoT, AI, and VR have the potential to create an interconnected, intelligent, and immersive ecosystem where data flows seamlessly between patients and providers, AI delivers insights that drive better care, and VR offers innovative solutions for both medical training and patient treatment.