Unlocking New Opportunities in Healthcare Through Metaverse

02 22, 2023

Metaverse represents a massive shift in how we interact with technology. Its popularity rose rapidly with the COVID-19 outbreak, as the pandemic accelerated digitization and normalized online communication and social interaction. A study reveals that the global metaverse market size can grow up to USD 678.80 billion by 2030.

Today, metaverse is transforming several industries like manufacturing, automotive, retail, real estate, banking and finance, and even entertainment and media. The arrival of metaverse is also transforming experiences in the world of health and wellness.

Metaverse in Healthcare

Telemedicine

With the help of metaverse, healthcare can now be done virtually. Patients can now consult with their doctors, and in turn, doctors can provide patients with care, anywhere in the world. The concept of telemedicine will become more common in the next few years as the rise of virtual reality and other immersive technologies increase in popularity.

Medical Education and Training

Metaverse also opens the opportunity for medical professionals to expand their learnings. With metaverse, healthcare students can achieve a more immersive and interactive learning experience. It provides a more realistic simulation of healthcare environments for healthcare professionals using ‘digital twins’ or virtual models of physical objects generated using real-world data.

Therapy and Rehabilitation

Patients can now employ virtual reality exercises under the supervision of a therapist through metaverse. This advancement is especially helpful for individuals with mobility issues or those living in rural or remote communities. Metaverse can also serve as a platform to host virtual support groups for patients with mental health issues or chronic conditions.

Closing Thoughts

Metaverse can be used to change and enhance the healthcare industry. It breaks down barriers of distance and long waiting times, offers more training to healthcare professionals, and overall improves virtual care.

However, metaverse also poses some risks. Since it’s a new technology, it will take some time to find suitable solutions to deliver care in a virtual environment. Also, there will always be concerns about data security being compromised. Let's not forget that the adult population may have difficulties using the metaverse as some are less tech-savvy or not yet ready to face technological advancement.

Overall, metaverse is still beneficial to the healthcare industry, as it has the potential to improve patient outcomes and eliminate barriers to accessing medical care.

About iWT

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References:

Global Data, https://www.globaldata.com/data-insights/technology--media-and-telecom/metaverse-becoming-a-reality/#:~:text=Augmented%20reality%20(AR)%2C%20virtual,but%20also%20increased%20user%20engagement.

Eric Ravenscraft, Apr. 25, 2022, WIRED, https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/

Jackie Wiles, Oct. 21, 2022, Gartner,https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/what-is-a-metaverse

Philippe Gerwill, Nov. 14, 2022, LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/medical-education-metaverse-philippe-gerwill?trk=public_post-content_share-article

Brindusa Vanta, MD, DHMHS, Feb. 13, 2023, Healthnews https://healthnews.com/family-health/healthy-living/is-the-metaverse-hospital-the-future-of-healthcare/