Secrets of Virtual Reality in The Medical Field

Kevin Nguyen
Product Coalition
Published in
4 min readApr 14, 2021

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Virtual Reality in Medical Field allows both patients and doctors to interact with simulated environments for better medical education, rehabilitation, and treatment.

Overview of Virtual Reality in Medical Field

Generally, VR refers to be a computer technology that develops a simulated environment, allowing users to interact with 3D worlds. In the context of the healthcare industry, VR medical technology is linked with medications and other kinds of therapy to deliver new and better treatment experiences to patients.

Additionally, VR technology in Healthcare also extremely supports medical students to better practice performance, enhance visualization of space and human anatomy, which are essential to unprofessional doctors and students.

The adoption of VR technology in Medical Field

The increasing demands for quality healthcare services, the need of reducing healthcare costs, and the critical role of software development in the healthcare sector are the key drivers of the VR software adoption growth in the medical field, and VR solutions are expected to be dominant in the healthcare software development in the near future which open opportunities for software development companies to participate in this profitably market.

According to Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, 82% of healthcare professionals agree that VR software delivers a healthcare solution development by quickly accessing and retrieving knowledge and techniques for medical students and doctors. In 2020, the global VR market in Healthcare was estimated at $336.9 million and projected to reach $2.2 billion by 2024.

The advantages of Virtual Reality in Healthcare

From a doctor’s perspective, with the help of VR, doctors can plan the surgery easily, simulate the surgery room to actually go through the 3D display world before the real surgery, then the success of the surgery is significantly increased. Furthermore, this healthcare system enables the physician to deliver more efficient care, improve patient care and boost the bottom line.

From a patient’s perspective, unlike 2D media, VR can simulate a 360° video and 3D environment, allowing patients to enter the environment and feel as though they are physically present within it, helping them better physical fitness and therapy, and also a better understanding of the treatment.

In the COVID-19 pandemic, Virtual Reality in Medical Field is beneficial for remote sites for exploring telemedicine, treatment and delivers many test cases and training to control the infections. Furthermore, not only benefit in treatment also, VR can be used as an entertainment technology for patients to get rid of any stress and boredom caused by quarantine at the hospital.

Applications of VR in Healthcare

Undoubtedly, Healthcare is one of the biggest adopters of VR, which is why this software solution has a multitude of applications for Healthcare, from clinical to consumers.

Medical Education

Virtual reality in the medical field enables medical students to deeply go inside the human body, to access a specific location that is impossible to reach in the real world. Not only provide a detailed inspection of the human body, but VR software can also offer many modern functions and support options to address the learning situations.

Medical Training

VR solutions that focus on practical medical training that help medical students and healthcare doctors enable hands-on skills in risk-free conditions. The software can replicate complicated surgical procedures by integrating with electronic medical records to enhance future doctors’ abilities.

Pain management

VR solutions are considered effective methods for pain relief. By using virtual reality, the nerves which generate the pain are identified. From that, the doctors can deliver proper treatment for a specific patient. With many VR medical apps, patients who suffer from the disease can understand what it is like to live with it and help them overcome their fears and shame. Moreover, the advantages of VR are cutting down on the use of medication, providing a more entertaining, relaxing, and interactive environment to help faster healing of the pain.

Better examination and rehabilitation

With the help of medical simulation software, professionals can collect essential patient data, identify the changes in thinking and behavior patterns to deliver new methods for rehabilitation, which better chances of recovery.

Challenges of Virtual Reality in Healthcare

Virtual Reality and Healthcare have been considered as a great combination in the medical field. However, along with the advantages are some limitations when using Virtual Reality in Medical Field. Also, this healthcare solution software can be a part of the problems themselves. Lack of understanding can cause serious consequences; hence, identifying these limitations will help doctors make strategic decisions when applying VR medical technology.

Reduce face-to-face communications

Because VR medical apps perform as telerehabilitation software, patients usually use this software at home or out of the medical locations without professionals and direct supervisors’ physical presence. This situation will decrease the medical relationships between the physician and patient.

Designing the software

UX design in VR medical apps is essential as it is the critical element that interest users take part in and user retention. Disoriented VR medical technology will make it challenging to learn and use; then, patients will refuse to use it. Furthermore, lack of function will make doctors unavailable to collect essential data of the patients.

In conclusion, the potential for VR in medicines and Healthcare is enormous and unlimited. Hence, VR medical technology will be fundamental to improve the plan’s accuracy and effectiveness and increase the ability of both caregivers and patients.

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