Top 10: Uses of the Metaverse in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is embracing a digital revolution, with the metaverse and augmented reality (AR) at its forefront and reshaping medical practices across the board, from training to treatment.

Surgeons now rehearse complex procedures in virtual operating rooms before ever touching a patient. Medical students explore intricate 3D anatomical models, enhancing their understanding of the human body. Meanwhile, AR is guiding doctors through surgeries, overlaying critical patient data in real time.

The metaverse, a collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual reality, offers numerous potential applications in healthcare. 

And while the integration of the metaverse into healthcare is still in its early stages, this technology has the potential to revolutionise the way healthcare is delivered, making it more interactive, personalised and accessible. Here are the top 10 uses.

10. Health monitoring and wellness

Key companies: FitXR, WHOOP, VirZOOM

When integrated with wearable technology,  the metaverse can transform health monitoring and wellness management. Platforms like FitXR combine VR with fitness tracking, creating immersive workout experiences while monitoring vital statistics. WHOOP bands can integrate with virtual environments, providing real-time feedback on physical performance and recovery. This continuous health monitoring in virtual spaces allows for immediate visualisation and interpretation of health data, enabling proactive health management.

9. Personalised medicine

Key companies: QxMD, DeepMind Health (part of Google), Insilico Medicine

The metaverse enhances personalised medicine by enabling the creation of detailed patient-specific models and simulations. Platforms like QxMD use VR to model individual anatomical structures, allowing for more accurate surgical planning. In oncology, virtual patient twins can be created to predict responses to different treatments, optimising therapy selection. This technology allows healthcare providers to visualise and analyse complex patient data in immersive 3D environments, leading to more informed decision-making.

8. Collaborative research and development

Key companies: Nanome, Schrödinger, Recursion Pharmaceuticals

The metaverse facilitates greater collaboration in medical research and development. Platforms like Nanome allow scientists and researchers to visualise and manipulate molecular structures in 3D, accelerating drug discovery and development processes. By being able to collaborate virtually and overcoming geographical limitations, healthcare experts from around the world can work together in real time to tackle complex medical challenges. Furthermore, the metaverse can simulate various scenarios and outcomes, enhancing the efficiency of clinical trials and reducing the time and cost associated with bringing new treatments to market.

7. Pain management

Key companies: AppliedVR, Karuna Labs, RelieVRx (formerly EaseVRx) 

Virtual reality in the metaverse provides an effective alternative for pain management by immersing patients in engaging, distracting environments. Platforms like AppliedVR offer experiences designed to help manage chronic pain and reduce discomfort during medical procedures. By redirecting attention and engaging multiple senses, VR can significantly reduce the perception of pain. This non-pharmacological approach to pain management is particularly valuable in reducing reliance on opioids and other pain medications. The metaverse can create personalised pain management experiences, tailoring virtual environments to individual patient preferences and pain levels, potentially revolutionising how we approach both acute and chronic pain treatment.

6. Patient education and engagement

Key companies: AccuVein, HealthVoyager, Visible Body

The metaverse offers innovative ways to educate patients about their conditions and treatment options through immersive experiences. Technologies like AccuVein use augmented reality to help patients visualise veins, enhancing understanding of procedures like blood draws. HealthVoyager employs VR to explain complex surgical procedures, reducing patient anxiety and improving comprehension. These immersive educational experiences lead to better-informed patients who are more engaged in their treatment plans. The metaverse can also create interactive models of the human body, allowing patients to explore their anatomy and better understand their health conditions.

5. Virtual reality surgery

Key companies: Proximie, Surgical Theater, Touch Surgery

Surgeons can rehearse complex procedures in realistic virtual environments, refining their techniques without risk to patients. Platforms like Proximie enable real-time collaboration between surgeons worldwide, allowing experienced practitioners to guide less experienced colleagues through procedures remotely. This technology enhances surgical precision, reduces errors, and facilitates the sharing of expertise across geographical boundaries. Virtual reality surgery also allows for pre-operative planning using patient-specific models, leading to more personalised and effective surgical approaches.

4. Rehabilitation and physical therapy

Key companies: MindMaze, RehabVR, MIRA Rehab 

The metaverse transforms rehabilitation and physical therapy by creating engaging, motivating environments for patients. Platforms like MindMaze use VR to help stroke survivors retrain their brains and recover motor function through interactive exercises in virtual worlds. This gamification of therapy makes the process more enjoyable, potentially increasing patient compliance and accelerating recovery. The metaverse allows therapists to create customised, progressive rehabilitation programs that adapt to each patient's needs and progress.

3. Mental health and therapy

Key companies: Oxford VR, Bravemind (University of Southern California), Psious

The metaverse provides a powerful tool for mental health treatment, offering controlled and safe virtual environments to address conditions like anxiety, PTSD, and phobias. Platforms such as Oxford VR create immersive scenarios for patients to confront and manage their issues gradually. For instance, individuals with social anxiety can practise social interactions in virtual settings, building confidence and coping skills. The University of Southern California's Bravemind, meanwhile, uses VR to treat PTSD in veterans, allowing them to process traumatic experiences in a controlled manner.

2. Remote consultations and telemedicine

Key companies: XRHealth, TeleVU, VSee

The metaverse elevates telemedicine by creating immersive virtual environments for patient-doctor interactions, transcending geographical barriers. Platforms like XRHealth enable remote physical therapy sessions, where therapists guide patients through exercises in virtual spaces, offering real-time feedback and monitoring. This technology enhances the quality of remote care, making it more engaging and effective. Patients can receive specialised care from experts worldwide without the need for travel. The metaverse in telemedicine also allows for more comprehensive assessments, as doctors can observe patient movements and reactions in a 3D environment, leading to more accurate diagnoses and personalised treatment plans.

1. Medical training and education

Key companies: Osso VR, ImmersiveTouch, FundamentalVR

Offering immersive, risk-free environments for students and professionals to practice procedures, the metaverse revolutionises medical education. Virtual reality platforms like Osso VR and ImmersiveTouch allow surgeons to hone their skills without endangering patients, with research from Osso VR finding that participants who underwent virtual reality training exhibited a higher level of procedural proficiency.

“The potential impact of this technology is almost unparalleled with over 300 million major surgeries performed annually around the world,” comments Justin Barad, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Founder/CEO of Osso VR. “The biggest challenge we now face as procedural care providers is implementing and utilising this clinically proven technology which will require continued evangelism, research and education.”

Medical schools can create realistic simulations of surgeries and emergency scenarios, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience in a controlled setting. This approach enhances learning outcomes, improves confidence and allows for repetitive practice of complex procedures.

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