What Google Glass Means To The Healthcare Industry
Just a few days ago, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre made headlines on account of using Google Glass, a wearable interactive technology, to perform a surgery. Dr. Christopher Kaeding used the technology to work with a distant colleague with the help of a live, point-of-view video right from his operating room. The procedure that was performed was an anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Such initiatives are important for the healthcare industry and medical students who can learn in real-time and gain practical skills.
In this case, while Dr. Kaeding performed the procedure, Google Glass shared his point of view to a different campus where the students could watch the progress on their laptops.
The impact on medical careers
This initiative shows that students who are interested in pursuing medical careers should think about how technology can really boost their careers. Institutes such as the American International Medical University are among those that offer such interactive sessions for different courses such as nursing. Educational resources like these can help students benefit from hands on training for numerous procedures without actually having to be present in the training room. Such programs are also a blessing in disguise for those who don’t have good universities in their localities.
Those interested in pursuing medical careers like surgery, nursing or some technician oriented course can benefit from technological advancements.
The application of device with respect to medical students is the most exciting avenue since it allows them to learn quickly and evolve in the field. Healthcare organizations such as the Hartford Hospital are using Google Glass technology to run simulations. The simulations are used to teach doctors, the staff and even the patients.
The impact on integration
The hands free recording feature of Google Glass allows different doctors to remotely train new surgeons. This can be relevant in the case where quality doctors and professionals can’t teach or train due to political or cultural reasons. With Google Glass, it is possible for surgeons and assisting staff to view patient scans and also monitor critical vital information while performing procedures.
With such technology at hand, the integration of different sources becomes easier. For instance, it is possible to use Google Glass to immediately call x-ray or MRI images and align them with other reports like pathology or related material. All of this is done in a second and the reaction time to providing care to the patient is reduced. Real time access to key information during surgery and other procedures can lead to breakthrough solutions.
There are incubator plans such as Medical Augmented Reality System or MARS. This system would allow the integration of features such as voice recognition, image detection command, and control applications with the help of Google Glass.
Another exciting integration that is in the works is merging Google Glass with IBM’s Watson. The goal is to use Watson’s natural language and evidence based learning to help doctors diagnose and treat patients. It would be a winning combination for the healthcare industry.
The Google Glass technology is a major game changer with regards to healthcare developments in the coming decade. The current developments hint that backers in the healthcare industry are pleased with the results and it won’t be surprising to see the device being used by a large number of professionals after a few years.
Article by Jennifer Smith
