AR and VR in Telehealth

Will It Disrupt the Healthcare Industry?

- By Ayesha Khan

Have you ever imagined how wonderful it would be to go inside your body’s 3D model with your doctor during a video call right from your home? No, it is not a scene out of a Hollywood movie or a sci-fi novel. With technologies like augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) integrated with telemedicine, it is entirely possible today.

Jointly called Extended Reality (XR) technology, these immersive technologies can create virtual environments and combine them with reality. VR immerses users in a virtual world, while AR overlays virtual elements onto the real world for improved context.

The future of healthcare is arriving through our screens, and it’s highly immersive and transformative. It allows doctors to conduct consultations, examinations, and even surgeries remotely. The introduction of AR and VR into telehealth services is set to dramatically change healthcare. According to JumpGrowth, more than 25% of hospitals in the U.S. and Germany already use AR/VR software for increased efficiency.

Courtesy of Ballistic Boxer Design/generated using Adobe Firefly

The potential benefits of integrating AR and VR into telehealth are vast, from enhanced patient care to training clinicians. These technologies improve diagnosis, enhance access, reduce costs, and improve the quality of healthcare.

Sooner or later, the use of AR/VR in telehealth is poised to disrupt the entire healthcare industry and usher in a new era of patient-centric, cutting-edge healthcare.

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