VR technology improves Communication in Healthcare Sector
"Using VR in healthcare activities"
Now, we are in a direct contact with technology, especially in the most important side of our life. Our health is now related to technology.
Latest technologies such Augmented reality, robotics and cloud computing, all are offering applications interacting with our health.
Advanced VR technology offers help to the healthcare sector by enhancing communication with patients who need a healthcare service. Virtual Reality enhances patient education and communication in healthcare.
Healthcare systems must have well trained medical professionals who have competency and experience in their field. But, what sets a successful healthcare system apart from the rest is effective communication. Communication between healthcare professionals (Doctors, Nurses) and patients is a major factor of the quality of the healthcare system. Effective communication is also the most important factor of patient satisfaction.
Effective communication is difficult and challenging in healthcare because in many cases a deep understanding of a challenge facing a patient would require the patient to have a strong medical background. This is rare. Instead, the goal for the healthcare professionals is to give the patient enough information so that they can understand the basics, know what to expect, but most importantly provide that information in a way that builds a deep trust between the patient and the healthcare professional. This trust builds confidence in patients and reduces anxiety and stress.
Latest technologies such Augmented reality, robotics and cloud computing, all are offering applications interacting with our health.
Advanced VR technology offers help to the healthcare sector by enhancing communication with patients who need a healthcare service. Virtual Reality enhances patient education and communication in healthcare.
Healthcare systems must have well trained medical professionals who have competency and experience in their field. But, what sets a successful healthcare system apart from the rest is effective communication. Communication between healthcare professionals (Doctors, Nurses) and patients is a major factor of the quality of the healthcare system. Effective communication is also the most important factor of patient satisfaction.
Effective communication is difficult and challenging in healthcare because in many cases a deep understanding of a challenge facing a patient would require the patient to have a strong medical background. This is rare. Instead, the goal for the healthcare professionals is to give the patient enough information so that they can understand the basics, know what to expect, but most importantly provide that information in a way that builds a deep trust between the patient and the healthcare professional. This trust builds confidence in patients and reduces anxiety and stress.
How is virtual reality (VR) has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of communication!
- VR is grounded in experiential learning, it can be used to effectively communicate information to patients about an upcoming medical procedure, or the use of a new medical device by having them experience it first-hand in VR.
- VR can be used to train the people skills of effective communication in healthcare professionals. This requires training at an emotional and behavioral level, not just at a cognitive level.
The traditional approach to communicating information to patients is to provide them with documents that outline the various pre-operative and post-operative instructions, procedures and risks, or documents that provide step-by-step instructions on how to use a new medical device. A healthcare professional might be available to answer specific questions, but the majority of the “communication” is between the text and the patient, with all the onus on the patient.
The cognitive system is limited by working memory and attention load, both of which are adversely affected by stress, and by normal ageing. Thus, the patient is left with a poor understanding of the upcoming medical procedure, or the ins and outs of using a new medical device.
There is no better way to communicate this information than to have the patient visit the hospital and talk to former patients, or to observe someone using a medical device.
How can VR Help with Communication in the Healthcare Sector!
VR will be an approach to patient education. As a patient, you can don a VR headset and follow the journey of a fellow patient during their pre-operative and post-operative phase. They might walk you through the necessary changes in diet and exercise prior to the operation. Both of you might then follow as a nurse gives you both a virtual tour of the hospital setting. You see the preparation room, the surgical room, and the recovery room with all of the gadgets including your trusty call button. Finally, you might spend some time with your fellow patient while they recover at home, and assure you that they are on the road to recovery.
VR is the ideal way for educating patients with a new medical device. Using an in-home peritoneal dialysis machine as an example, suppose the patient dons a VR headset and is immersed in a 360 experience with an expert who has used a peritoneal dialysis machine for years. The patient can watch as the expert demonstrates and verbally describes the step-by-step procedures needed to care and maintain the dialysis machine. The patient can view this from a third-person perspective, but also from the first-person perspective. The expert can demonstrate common pitfalls and how to address them while describing them verbally. The patient can view the VR experience and can complete knowledge checks at the end to ensure that they have the requisite knowledge. They can view the experience as many times as they like until they are confident in their own skills.
Other VR experiences can be created and can be used for training. For example, a healthcare professional in training might be transported into the middle of a busy emergency room and shadow a seasoned professional explaining a patient’s condition to his family or friends.
Healthcare professionals can feel the emotions and experience the reactions associated with these realistic experiences that they are a part of. Critically, these VR experiences can be repeated and new more subtle experiences can be developed. Multiple vantage points can be experienced, whether patient, family member, or healthcare professional.
Finally, VR has the potential to revolutionize the quality of patient education and to help healthcare professionals hone the people skills of effective communication. Effective patient education and communication are what sets successful healthcare systems apart from the rest.
VR is the ideal way for educating patients with a new medical device. Using an in-home peritoneal dialysis machine as an example, suppose the patient dons a VR headset and is immersed in a 360 experience with an expert who has used a peritoneal dialysis machine for years. The patient can watch as the expert demonstrates and verbally describes the step-by-step procedures needed to care and maintain the dialysis machine. The patient can view this from a third-person perspective, but also from the first-person perspective. The expert can demonstrate common pitfalls and how to address them while describing them verbally. The patient can view the VR experience and can complete knowledge checks at the end to ensure that they have the requisite knowledge. They can view the experience as many times as they like until they are confident in their own skills.
Other VR experiences can be created and can be used for training. For example, a healthcare professional in training might be transported into the middle of a busy emergency room and shadow a seasoned professional explaining a patient’s condition to his family or friends.
Healthcare professionals can feel the emotions and experience the reactions associated with these realistic experiences that they are a part of. Critically, these VR experiences can be repeated and new more subtle experiences can be developed. Multiple vantage points can be experienced, whether patient, family member, or healthcare professional.
Finally, VR has the potential to revolutionize the quality of patient education and to help healthcare professionals hone the people skills of effective communication. Effective patient education and communication are what sets successful healthcare systems apart from the rest.
