The healthcare sector has rapidly been increased its technological adoption in the last few years as the advancement in AI, Machine Learning, NLP, among others is on the rise. The healthcare professionals these days are leveraging the technology for patient care, from enabling doctors to detect congenital heart defects in 3D to minimizing pain signals for patients suffering from burns or chronic conditions. In this regard, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) is set to disrupt the healthcare field from the bottom.

Considering industry reports, the global market of AR and VR in healthcare is anticipated to reach from US$800 Million in 2017 to US$6,500 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 30.7 percent.

Need for AR and VR in Healthcare

AR and VR are already having a transformative impact on healthcare technologies across the globe. Both technologies provide viable solutions to the many challenges of the health care system, assisting in several distinct opportunities in different areas, such as general diagnostics and medical training.

As virtual reality completely replaces a user’s view with a different scene like a video game or a film of a rollercoaster ride, AR, on the other side, enhances the user’s view of the real world, instead of replacing it, by superimposing information or rendered 3D elements into the scene. VR and AR smart devices are already proving to be cheaper and more accessible in treating, curing and improving understanding of ailments, diseases, among others compared to other treatments and technologies.

Both technologies put the existing healthcare system status quo upside down and make it more valuable than ever before. Implementation of these technologies can be a game-changer for healthcare.

So, here are the ways of how AR and VR can help improve the healthcare system.

Making Training of Surgeons Easier

VR can add real value to the training of medical professionals. In the UK, the first VR operation performed at the Royal London Hospital for the removal of a cancerous tissue using a VR camera. It allowed medical students to see the live operation of it rather than trying to catch a glimpse over a surgeon’s shoulders.

Relieving Pain

In pain management, VR is highly effective as it performs as a diversion. The technology affects the brain’s neural pathways in the same way as real-life experiences, generating robust memories that aide patients to forget about or at least minimize the pain they are suffering.

Improving Patient Experience

Patient experience is vital for healthcare organizations when it comes to the use of VR and AR into the operation. AR- and VR-driven healthcare applications can enhance the patient experience through an extension. Often, chronic patients experience the discomfort of being partially left to their own devices in-between the care processes. Leveraging these technologies can help make their experience a little bit comfortable and eventually more exciting.

Thus, augmented and virtual reality is able to add substantial value to the healthcare systems in the virtual training of surgeons for complicated surgeries, dampening phobia in mental health treatment, creating 3D operating room simulations, and performing as chronic pain management.