Is the future of health care in the metaverse?
Bowling Green, Ky. (August 13, 2024) - The evolution of technology has accelerated rapidly in recent years, integrating into all aspects of life, including health care and medicine. A fascinating new article released by Frontiers in Public Health explores what health care may look like in the near future. The study found that some medical facilities and universities have begun to incorporate the metaverse into medical practice and education in the form of augmented and virtual reality.
What is the metaverse exactly?
The metaverse is a three-dimensional space where the physical world is blended with a virtual world. Sometimes, spaces mimic reality. Other times, space is transformed into a reality that’s less familiar, where one can run simulations or experiments that would otherwise be difficult to replicate in real life.
In medical practice, the metaverse can be used in a variety of different ways. Augmented reality (AR), for example, has been used to conduct spinal surgeries, which adds increased precision to these complex procedures. It can also be used as a tool for medical students to gain hands-on experience by simulating surgical interactions.
Virtual reality (VR) has been used for educational purposes as well, allowing instructors to create virtual classrooms for their students. VR has also extended beyond the classroom — one treatment program, which proved successful for patients with autism spectrum disorders, simulated real-life scenarios that improved social and relational skills. Other new technologies have emerged, such as Lifelog, which captures health data through wearable or mobile devices.
All of these technological innovations have the potential to improve the practice of medicine and enhance health outcomes for patients.
Why does the enhancement of telehealth technology matter to Connected Nation (CN)?
To use this new technology, access to high-speed internet is a requirement. CN’s mission is to provide innovative solutions that expand the access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet and its related technologies, and that includes telehealth. Here at CN, we believe telehealth is essential because it can make health care more accessible and improve health outcomes for many communities.
Many people living in remote regions of the country do not have easy access to care at all. Even in places where medical care is nearby, not everyone can afford to take the time out of their day to travel to a doctor’s appointment. In cases such as this, telehealth can be used as a tool to bridge the gap in health care access and make it easier for some people to receive the treatment they need.
The use of telehealth has been on the rise in recent years in part because the COVID-19 pandemic initiated the move to online and virtual care. According to a CN study on telehealth usage among Tribal residents in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., nearly 2 out of 5 survey respondents (38.1%) have used some form of telehealth service to interact with their health care providers. Although in-person care is still a necessity, these results show that people have become more open to the idea of connecting with a health care provider remotely.
CN’s research also shows there are many benefits to telehealth. Nearly 1 out of 4 users (27.6%) said that accessing telehealth services prevented visits to a doctor. This is huge for individuals who live in remote areas, or for those who lack transportation and must take hours out of their day just to speak to a doctor.
As technology continues to develop, it’s vital that telehealth tools and resources remain accessible for all, so that those most in need can reap the benefits.
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About the Author: Shauna Plath is a Connected Nation Research Assistant. Shauna is responsible for using qualitative and quantitative techniques to interpret data collected through surveys, focus groups, and other public-facing methodologies. Shauna also works with internal and external stakeholders to help develop research and provide critical information in support of the Connected Nation mission.