It’s time to start learning about metaverse development if you still need to. By 2024, the metaverse could generate an $800 billion market. Healthcare is not an exception to the adoption of the internet’s next evolution in other sectors. In fact, given its transformative promise for healthcare, some refer to it as “diverse.”
To be clear, it is not a gaming system or a set of virtual reality glasses. By participating in and inhabiting a shared experience that ranges from our real world to a fully virtual world—and everywhere in between—the metaverse enables us to go beyond browsing. When we think about its effects, we can see how wide-ranging they are and will remain, profoundly affecting outcomes, experiences, and access to healthcare.
The uprising has started.
Healthcare executives are speculating on how the metaverse might help to transform the way that healthcare is delivered. 81% of healthcare executives surveyed globally said they believe the metaverse will positively impact their organizations; nearly half said the effect will be “transformational” or “breakthrough.” This was revealed in Accenture’s Digital Health Technology Vision 2022.
Several new use cases make the potential transformation of healthcare clear:
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Immersive training:
The metaverse places the learner in the appropriate environment. Consider virtual experiences that help teach sensitivity and empathy by placing providers in the patient’s shoes. Medical students can safely practice procedures in simulated operating rooms, and doctors can simulate surgeries using digital twins of organs to see potential outcomes without putting a patient at risk.
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Digital diagnostics:
In augmented reality, we can use movement, space, and interaction to enable various diagnoses. For example, medical professionals can spot neurological markers or eye conditions like glaucoma by observing eye movements.
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Patient and caregiver wellness:
Wellness for patients and caregivers is possible in the metaverse, just as it is for providers. Doctors can explain disease states and treatment plans using immersive environments. These settings can aid in teaching caregivers how to care for a family member at home. Better health literacy and greater adherence to treatment plans can result in better outcomes when education is improved.
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Planning and delivering care:
Immersive technologies enable practicing procedures in advance by simulating them. For instance, Accenture and Microsoft collaborated to revolutionize surgery in Mexico and Latin America. During operations, surgeons can use augmented reality to view patient records, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. Clinical staff can also benefit from real-time data sharing in less complex circumstances. First responders can access real-time live video and audio communication with distant doctors using RespondEye’s augmented reality technology.
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Virtual therapeutics:
Extended reality technologies are being used in new virtual therapies to assist patients with pain management, neurological disorders, behavioral health, and physical health. BehaVR uses an evidence-based platform to immerse patients in virtual worlds while providing them with resources and lifelong coping mechanisms that help them deal with stress, anxiety, and fear.
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Tokenization and interoperability:
Web3, blockchain, and other technologies enable users to safely own, share, and manage patient, provider, and payer data through tokenization and interoperability. (e.g., digital health identity and record management, secure payments, rewards, and incentives leveraging NFTs).
These use cases show how healthcare institutions are starting to push the limits of metaverse technologies to offer cutting-edge clinical, operational, and recreational experiences. However, we know that people need to accept them so that these technologically enhanced healthcare experiences will catch on.
People are prepared for healthcare in the metaverse.
We are discovering how eager people are to participate in the metaverse. Our study of more than 3,000 people in the US, Canada, and the UK revealed that while 75% of respondents claimed to have heard of the metaverse, only 50% thought they understood what it was, indicating that there is still room for improvement in making these technologies’ applications practical and approachable. The highest-rated category, on par with shopping and events, when considering how the metaverse might be used across industry categories, was health and wellness, with 73% having either definite or some interest.
To gauge responses, we tested more than 16 healthcare metaverse use cases. Our research revealed that connectivity, such as meeting up with friends and family while in the hospital, patient education, and care delivery are the use cases that people are most interested in. Millennials (89%) and Gen Z (89%) are the most receptive to opportunities from the metaverse, and as these generations get older, a growing portion of this audience will need medical care.
Going to enter the metaverse for the first time
The majority of people need to learn more about the metaverse. However, as health organizations work to address the three main issues affecting people today: access, experience, and outcomes, this new wave of technological advancements may provide the springboard they require.
But how do you get started in this brand-new world of possibilities? Here are some suggestions on how to start.
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Look for innovative ideas.
Examine the main issues that your organization is dealing with and think about how the metaverse continuum can help. The metaverse has solutions for improving prevention, supporting omnichannel strategies, and expanding the capacity of care teams. To create real value while the market develops, decide which areas you can pilot metaverse technologies now. -
Build the foundation of technology.
The digital infrastructure that underpins these cutting-edge technologies must change along with the metaverse. Understanding your organization’s longer-term infrastructure requirements for the cloud, data, interoperability, and more will help you prepare for the future. To qualify for future innovations, start modernizing. -
Get your populace ready for the metaverse.
Determine the digital proficiency your employees need to take advantage of the metaverse opportunity and provide them with the training they need to achieve it. The value to the organization will only increase if employees can use technology in their regular jobs.
The metaverse is now, and it provides an ideal environment for healthcare innovation. Healthcare organizations can begin making strategic investments immediately because they have advanced notice of impending changes. We offer metaverse consulting services. It’s time to enter the metaverse for the first time to take advantage of this chance to enhance outcomes, access, and experiences for years to come.