Utilizing Augmented Reality in Modern Healthcare

I recently viewed a podcast that really grabbed my attention! It's called "How Augmented Reality Could Change the Future of Surgery" by Nadine Hachach-Haram. She takes the stage and begins to highlight her points in a typical fashion. She noted the shortages of surgeons for common and advanced surgeries. This is where things caught my eye. Instead of an idea to increase the amount of surgeons, she explains a very smooth solution: Augmented reality and remote surgeries.

To be honest, this is the first time I've ever heard or considered this as a possibility. With the recent advances in technology and robotics, the medical field has reached a new height of possibilities. Autonomous robots that perform surgeries by themselves, or robotics operating with the assistance of humans have been surfacing in the medical world. As more and more hospital robotics are introduced, what would be the best way to utilize them?

She decides to show her audience instead of explain. All she has is a laptop and several hundred miles away is a surgeon performing and operation on a patient's knee. They establish a webcam connection, and on her screen appears an image of a patient's knee seconds before surgery. Infront of hundreds of members of the audience, she casually exchanges pleasantries with the surgeon and begins to point to different parts of the knee on her screen. She is assisting the surgeon with the beginning stages of the surgery. I see her highlight different areas of the knee on her screen, and the surgeon hundreds of miles away sees the same thing on his screen, and begins to use the scalpel on the areas she highlighted.

This was mind blowing to me. Once more hospitals start upgrading their equipment, there will be a virtual network of surgeons and healthcare all over the globe. Surgeons can view other surgeons in real time and weigh in their knowledge and advice. But why stop there? Nadine explains that with the increase in robotics, there is the very real possibility of remote surgeries. 

These medical robotics used for extreme precision, can be remotely used by experts without being anywhere near the patient. This could possibly be the most efficient form of surgery yet. While the world may be a ways from entirely autonomous surgeries, think of how many doors this road can open. A surgeon stationed in Hawaii (for example) can sit down at his computer, log in, and perform six surgeries in six different states before he even has lunch. The more hospitals that jump onto this idea, the bigger the web gets. Eventually, surgeries can be performed across country lines. 

I know this may seem like an insane concept, but the world is progressing at a very fast rate. I personally believe this will be commonplace within the next 15 years. With the proper policies in place, this can really take off, and I personally hope it does. It will be efficient, effective and above all, people can receive the best possible healthcare by top quality professionals without having to travel halfway across the country. I am excited to see where this leads the future of healthcare and robotics.