The experience didn't stop with the virtual attendees. "That surgery and
others like it, with the right kind of VR equipment, can be stored, accessed
and experienced in the same way at a later time," says Dr. Ahmed.
Live interaction is lost in viewing after the fact, but the potential for
groundbreaking educational gain is enormous. "The idea that a global
audience can gain access to the latest surgical innovations and tech-
niques has the chance to level the major healthcare disparities of the
world if applied effectively," comments Dr. Ahmed.
Monumental advances in VR and AR are making the sharing of infor-
mation easier than ever before and can simplify how providers learn
advanced surgical techniques, says Dr. Ahmed. "With smartphones
becoming increasingly ubiquitous and AR and VR equipment becoming
affordable, more professionals from across the world will be able to tap
into an immense bank of surgical knowledge," he adds.
Using this equipment does more than transform OR capabilities
through advanced imaging; it connects people. Imagining the communi-
cation barriers being broken by this technology is what makes it thrilling.
Dr. Grossmann says surgeons can use VR to consult with and train
one another over vastly remote distances. The logistics of multi-dis-
ciplinary procedures can transform just as well, too. "As these prac-
tices become more commonplace, surgeons from different back-
grounds and locations could ideally drastically reduce the complica-
tions of sharing expertise, education and experience across the
globe," he says. — Joe Madsen
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 1
expedited greatly with the help of one integrated point of view and
data source.
OSM
Dr. Grossmann (rgrossmann@emhs.org) is a healthcare futurist and surgeon
in Bangor, Maine. Follow him on Twitter (@ZGJR) and check out his blog at
rafaelgrossmann.com.