Does VR have a substantial future in healthcare? While Virtual Reality is already operating in medical training, therapy and patient care, challenges remain. We asked three experts to weigh in on whether VR is poised for widespread adoption or still has hurdles to overcome.
Katherine Ann Rubino, Partner & Director, Life Sciences Practice Group at CALDWELL
There has been a large amount of innovation in the VR and healthcare space, however it seems we are still far off from seeing broad global adoption of it. Over the past few years there has been a large uptick in patent filings aimed at protecting innovations that couple VR technology to applications in the healthcare space. For example, companies such as Immersive Touch use VR to allow surgeons to enhance and practice various surgical techniques. We’ve also seen tools of it to be used for mental health purposes, for example to expose individuals to various stress situations to help them develop coping strategies. XRHealth is a VR tool that helps aid in the treatment of phobias, generalized anxiety, OCD, ADHD and the like.
However, even though VR is infiltrating society, we don’t quite see a lot of uniform mainstream adoption. This seems to be in alignment when other disruptive technologies are first introduced to the marketplace. Take for example, cell phones. The first cell phone call that ever took place by Martin Cooper happened on April 3, 1973. Patenting activity exploded in the 1980’s and 1990’s and then we saw market adoption by the 2000’s. Time will tell if this same trend will align with this new tool that may aid in delivering healthcare more quickly and efficiently.
Michael Brown, Founder and CEO at CloudNine AI
As it relates to emerging technologies and their applications, I am pleased to provide a perspective on the role of Virtual Reality (VR) in healthcare and its potential as a transformative resource. VR has emerged as a powerful tool with a meaningful place in modern medicine, offering innovative solutions that enhance patient care, medical training and therapeutic interventions. Its immersive capabilities enable healthcare professionals to bridge gaps in traditional practices, delivering benefits that are both practical and profound.
One of the most significant advantages of VR in healthcare is its ability to improve medical training and education. VR simulations allow practitioners to rehearse complex procedures in a risk-free environment, honing skills without jeopardising patient safety. For instance, surgeons can practice intricate operations, while medical students can explore human anatomy in three dimensions, fostering a deeper understanding of spatial relationships. Beyond training, VR supports patient care through applications like pain management and mental health therapy. Studies have shown that immersive VR experiences can reduce chronic pain perception by distracting patients and engaging their senses, while VR-based exposure therapy has proven effective in treating conditions such as PTSD and phobias by simulating controlled environments.
However, integrating VR into healthcare is not without challenges, particularly regarding the protection of sensitive information and personally identifiable information (PII). As VR systems collect data—ranging from biometric inputs to patient behaviour—ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA becomes critical. Breaches of PII could erode trust and expose patients to privacy risks, necessitating robust encryption, secure data storage and strict access controls. Additionally, the high cost of VR hardware and software development poses a barrier to widespread adoption, particularly in resource-limited settings. Technical limitations, such as motion sickness or latency in VR experiences, also require refinement to ensure patient comfort and clinical efficacy.
In conclusion, VR holds a meaningful and expanding role in healthcare, offering unparalleled benefits in training, therapy, and patient engagement. While challenges like safeguarding sensitive data and overcoming cost hurdles persist, ongoing advancements in technology and cybersecurity can address these concerns. As VR continues to evolve, its potential to revolutionise healthcare is undeniable, provided stakeholders prioritise ethical implementation and accessibility. With careful stewardship, VR can solidify its place as a cornerstone of innovative medical practice.
Marianne Matzo, PhD, Education Director and Podcast Host at Everyone Dies
Virtual Reality (VR) in healthcare has become popular to help manage phobias, post-traumatic stress disorders and palliative care. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms associated with serious illness and improving quality of life. It is offered in conjunction with other treatments and is provided at any stage of an illness.
VR allows people receiving palliative care to explore different environments and scenery based on individual preferences, provide an alternative setting from their routine environment and allow them to engage in sights and sounds that provide distraction from their illness and help occupy the brain in positive ways.
Using VR in palliative care offers a range of physiological and psychological benefits. According to a 2022 meta-analysis (Martin et al., 2022), some of these benefits may include: improved pain management, reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, improved comfort and mood, decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation and improved breathing.
VR can offer activities that are essential for people living with serious illnesses’ well-being. However, many don’t have the financial resources, health, energy or family support to engage in their interests and events. VR can overcome these barriers and help people virtually engage in meaningful activities. Research findings suggest that VR improved anxiety, depression and mental health disorders (Martin et al., 2022).
VR has the potential to create moments of joy and pleasure. People with only months to live could virtually travel to places on their bucket lists, feeling almost as if they were there. They could also ‘visit’ places that hold sweet, old memories; reminiscing by visiting memorable places in VR was more positive for people receiving palliative care than visiting new places (Martin et al., 2022).
Moloney and colleagues (2023) conducted a literature review to document how VR was used in palliative care and found that VR offered meditative/relaxing experiences, exciting activities, or travel experiences. The endpoints were to document quality of life, physical and psychological symptoms, function, physiological signals, spiritual well-being, and behavioural changes. In relation to physical and psychological symptoms, people reported perceived improvements in their symptoms related to underlying health conditions (e.g. improvements in pain, tiredness, body relaxation, breathing, depression and anxiety). An increased sense of well-being and happiness was reported, as well as positive feelings of relief from the burden of hospitalisation.
Most people want to die at home but often die in hospitals and nursing homes. VR could allow conscious patients to choose their ideal location to feel like they are dying at home or some other idyllic place.
