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Category: Uncategorized

How COVID-19 is Changing Telemedicine

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Diana Cugliari

By:  Diana Cugliari
President & CEO
Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we do just about everything – including how we provide and receive healthcare. If you find yourself talking with your doctor more often via video call than in the office, you aren’t alone.

Since the onset of the pandemic last spring, federal and state governments have eased restrictions that had previously impeded the use of telemedicine platforms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The 154% increase in telehealth visits during the last week of March 2020, compared with the same period in 2019 might have been related to pandemic-related telehealth policy changes and public guidance.”

This has helped to propel emerging telehealth platforms into more widespread use, and now telehealth is emerging as a preferred delivery method for both providers and patients.

This stands to reason – not only is telehealth more convenient (no driving, parking, waiting in-office), it reduces risk to exposure and also helps to conserve the use of medical supplies and precious personal protective equipment (PPE).

In some scenarios, though, the use of telemedicine may not be ideal – for instance, if a patient’s condition requires more involved evaluation, testing, or labs.

Also, while telehealth may be a bridge to care for some, for others it may be a barrier. Some patients may struggle to overcome a variety of obstacles – no internet service, no smartphone or other device to access virtual care, lack of technical knowledge or resistance to embracing technology needed, and lack of a caregiver/support person who can help. Outreach and support are needed to help patients overcome these disparities and facilitate telehealth access.

This is especially important for those living with chronic conditions, as a telehealth platform is an ideal solution for chronic disease management, according to Pamela Greenhouse, Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President of Clinical Operations at Wellbridge Health, a connected health management company.

“There is no doubt that telehealth can improve the quality of care, such as in cases where patients would not travel to necessary medical appointments or need more frequent health intervention than traditional care models provide,” says Ms. Greenhouse. “Our chronic disease management approach, which provides frequent, brief one-on-one telehealth interactions in between physician visits, has been shown to improve health outcomes and quality of life while decreasing avoidable ER/hospitalizations.”

Will telehealth remain a preferred delivery method even post-pandemic? That may depend in large part on whether the easing of restrictions on the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic are extended. The American Medical Association (AMA) is advocating to make these policy changes permanent.

Meanwhile, many of us have become accustomed to seeing our doctors from the comfort of our living room – bring a whole new spin on the old-fashioned “house call.”

Koonin LM, Hoots B, Tsang CA, et al. Trends in the Use of Telehealth During the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January–March 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1595–1599. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6943a3external icon.
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Venture Capitalist Perspectives in a COVID-19 World – Part 2 of 2

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Diana Cugliari

After an informative conference call with leading venture capitalists, sponsored by the National Venture Capital Association, I felt there were some great takeaways worth sharing. The overarching theme was how to respond to and manage startup challenges that are only now starting to emerge in the chilly economic climate of a COVID-19 world.

What are some of the Go-To-Market strategies startups might have to face and adapt to?

Investors want to know that you have sensors out in the market. They want to know that you are listening to the needs of potential clients who want to engage. Since conferences and large gatherings simply are not happening, you’re going to need to find a new way to the top of the sales funnel. You need to get comfortable using Zoom and other meeting software–get GOOD at it; these platforms are quickly becoming part of a new cross-industry standard.

How would I raise a round remotely? Can you build the founder/partner relationship without conventional face-to-face meetings? 

Actually, seasoned venture capitalists are anticipating a future of investing without meeting every founder in person. Remember that the trust of the venture capitalist will be earned over time. Make sure you know your domain, develop a reputation for demonstrating customer engagement, and zero in on how your product fits in with the current climate—after all, the focus is going to be on data.

What’s the strategy for a startup that’s not currently in the “need to have” category? 

If it’s something that’s nice to have, find your way to the customer that must have it. In this climate, both businesses and customers are going to tighten up and focus on higher value initiatives. Anticipating this truth is of the utmost importance. If the startup team is too lean, and it becomes obvious that this is not the time to go to market, venture capitalists are going to take a pass.

Is it worth it to narrow the pitch to perceived value strictly in the shadow of COVID-19? Or should we continue chasing the big vision? 

The focus today is on keeping the company alive during a time of crisis, while continuing to nurture long-term strategies and the “big picture” for future growth. Though right now, today, we’re narrowing our vision to that “one feature” for that specific customer, we’re aware that certain sectors are going to be especially hard-hit. If you’re gunning for that “hard-hit” market, you need to either redirect or hit pause and hunker down. Remember: venture capitalists prefer situational awareness, so you’d better figure out where and how the company is currently positioned.

Are there other ways to make progress right now, other than selling to customers? 

Tons of progress can be made. Get out and meet with potential customers, develop a deeper understanding of their needs; where are the gaps? Are you still aligned with your people? Is your mission clear and well-communicated? Repurpose your time for product development so when the thaw comes, you have something special to share. Consider starting a funding round: This could be a prime opportunity to start a seed stage and get a company going. After all, it’s not likely to be a crowded competitive field vying for those same dollars.

Are there other ways to add value to your community when you’re a membership product?

To reiterate one of the most important points from earlier in the discussion: Listen to the needs of your current customers, and service them to the best of your ability. Become of source of assistance, information, and added value to your customer. Also, consider whether there is a solution you can provide to a need that is not usually handled by your product; diversification is almost always possible.

Posted in Uncategorized, Venture Capital PerspectiveLeave a comment

Venture Capitalist Perspectives in a COVID-19 World – Part 1 of 2

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Diana Cugliari

After an informative conference call with leading venture capitalists, sponsored by the National Venture Capital Association, I felt there were some great takeaways worth sharing. The overarching theme was how to respond to and manage startup challenges that are only now starting to emerge in the chilly economic climate of a COVID-19 world.

So, is anyone still investing? 

The answer is, generally, yes. On a macro level, venture capitalists are looking carefully at businesses in the early stages, where they may be seeking funding for early product development, for example. As companies move into later stages of growth, uncertainty starts to hamper their ability to make decisions—particularly during a crisis like the one at hand–so they are less attractive to investors.

What are the secrets to presenting well to venture capitalists in a time of virtual meetings only? 

Everyone needs to be using video for presentations, rather than hiding behind voice-only communication. The visual aspect means the meetings will take longer, but there is no overemphasizing the importance of the visual component in terms of making an impact through clear communication of ideas, potentially enabling a connection on a deeper level. Brevity and accuracy become paramount; and keeping details, content, and data tight will help to streamline initial presentations—get to the point quickly, and make the point clearly. Also, consider building relationships with shorter meetings with specific purpose(s). Follow-up sessions can often be kept to 30-45 minutes with each session building on the last.

What makes a pitch more attractive to venture capitalists during a downturn in the economy? 

Often, they (VCs) are looking for signs of life in troubled times. They want to know that you’re still engaging your customers and moving your product; that you’ve found the pockets of opportunity for your product to solve a key problem and prove that you’re still viable in this environment (i.e., could you diversify and/or move part of the business online?).

What are the most important data points for a startup to show potential investors, to prove they’re on point?

In short, customer retention and customer expansion are most attractive; clarity in financial planning and evidence that expenses are being brought under close control are also of great interest. Most importantly, under our new collective reality, show how you are going to retain control of the company’s destiny.

What else are startups to do differently now, than they did in the pre-COVID world? 

Primarily:  Make it your top priority to ensure your people are safe and healthy. Next, look at your existing customer….take great care of your existing customers. Modify your processes to generate goodwill among your clients and retain them through the hard times—anything you’re building has to be for them. Another central idea is to pull back on your expenses and do your best to “make do” with the resources at hand, erring, of course, on the side of caution and conservation, and putting the people and public health first.

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FDA issues guidance on conduct of clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Jim Jordan

To Our Community,

The impact of COVID-19 on our personal and business lives has been, and will continue to be, significant. New guidance from the FDA specifically outlines how the virus will impact clinical trials, both those that are ongoing, as well as those yet to begin (“FDA Guidance on Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products during COVID-19 Pandemic”).

The State of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is making resources available to help businesses through this uncertain time through its COVID-19 Resources website.

Being faced with so much unknown, this pandemic has caused disruption, stress, and fear. With the need for new vaccines and treatments, we in the life sciences are tasked with bringing the best and brightest minds together to find solutions. At the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, we are honored to be a part of this effort through our portfolio company, CytoAgents.

CytoAgents is working on an immunotherapy that is easily administered and cost effective, increasing its ability to make a positive global impact. With their oral treatment, the inflammation response that is triggered by a virus will be controlled more effectively. And unlike anti-viral medications, there is no risk of resistance or possibility of not working as the virus mutates. This is revolutionary and exciting, and it brings a sense of hope.

Please be careful, mindful of others, and adhere to the CDC guidelines.

 

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The Future of Healthcare is Connected: What you Need to Know About the IoMT

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Jim Jordan

Your thermostat has an app. So does your doorbell. Your refrigerator can show you a digital display of what’s inside, while pulling up your favorite recipes using those items. There are even dog collars with built-in GPS trackers. The Internet of Things (IoT) reaches deep into a wide span of everyday products. In fact, there’s little, if anything, that doesn’t boast an internet-enabled version. The ability to connect through the internet has even expanded to cover health and wellness. The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), as you might expect, presents a mixture of pros and cons.

What Is It?

The IoMT bridges computer technology with health IT applications and medical devices. In layman’s terms, this is your Apple Watch doubling as a heart rate monitor. It’s your mobile phone interacting with your glucose monitor. It’s the medical devices that allow your healthcare practitioner to monitor you from home. It also extends to devices that are based in clinical settings, which can span from patient monitoring systems to recordkeeping. These are just some of the examples of IoMT devices in use today.

Challenges of IoMT

As with any new technology, IoMT presents a series of challenges that we must overcome. Let’s be clear: These challenges are not insurmountable, nor do they outweigh the benefits we’ll discuss shortly. These are weakness, however, that product developers are going to have to improve before widespread medical use is realized.

To begin with, the lack of interoperability is a factor. With devices operating within proprietary structures, the ability to share information between patient and provider(s) is limited. Heart health data collected on your wearables should be able to be downloaded to the EHR system your doctor’s office uses. The post-surgical data your specialists are tracking via remote monitoring should be easily connected to your primary care physician’s records. Today, a lack of standards impedes this cross-connectivity. A move to a new set of standards that allows interoperability will improve this.

Connected devices are inherently a cybersecurity risk. Until device makers focus on this and make mitigating the risk of data breeches a priority, IoMT adoption may be hindered. This category goes beyond the fitness tracker on your wrist. Connected devices include pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, and insulin pumps, as well as hospital-based equipment. With these devices, cybersecurity becomes a matter of patient safety. Similarly, the same issues with insecure remote access that cause some to pause over security concerns, can present challenges to HIPAA, as well.

Strengths of IoMT

The benefits of IoMT make the efforts to overcome or mitigate the above-mentioned challenges worth pursuing. Devices that track our vitals, monitor various health and wellness markers, and even remind us to stick to our prescribed medications can improve patient experiences and outcomes while simultaneously keeping costs in check. For example, the combination of an aging baby boomer generation and a shortage of healthcare providers can stress our already taxed healthcare system. IoMT devices are a natural fit for telehealth solutions that increase access by circumventing geographic barriers to care.

Goldman Sachs estimates IoMT devices will reduce healthcare costs by $300 billion. Being able to effectively remote-monitor decreases hospital admissions. Reduced cost of care is a natural byproduct of this. In addition, the function of hospital-based connected devices can be more effectively monitored, which can help reduce downtime and the costs associated with it. IoMT devices, as previously noted, can improve patient adherence, which has a positive impact on overall healthcare costs.

Further, with interoperability challenges resolved, IoMT would give providers access to more accurate data than traditional patient reporting methods in use today. Did you complete your prescribed physical therapy exercises today? Did you complete each exercise properly? IoMT devices can collect precise data to answer these questions, helping physicians track patient adherence, and amend the course of treatment as needed.

Of course, as the technology evolves, the benefits and the challenges of IoMT will evolve as well. What we do know is this: The IoMT will play a key role in the future of healthcare, and the more time, energy, and resources we devote to this category of technology, the more benefits we will achieve.

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Meet our Companies: Therapeutics Innovators in the PLSG Portfolio

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Jim Jordan

Meet our Companies: Therapeutics Innovators in the PLSG Portfolio

Healthcare is changing at a rapid pace and technology is one impetus behind the evolution. Organizations like the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse have the privilege of supporting and nurturing the innovative companies that are propelling the industry forward into a new age. In our last blog, we took a closer look at the medical device companies we’re working with. We’d now like to introduce you to some the other companies in our portfolio. The organizations in this overview come from our Therapeutics category.

What is Therapeutics?

Simply put, therapeutics deals specifically with the treatment of disease. Several of the companies in our portfolio are currently in pre-clinical and clinical stages of product development. It’s exciting to walk with them on this journey of research, development and trialing their innovative treatments. The innovative entrepreneurs behind these companies are striving to treat a wide range of diseases and disorders.

Complexa

Complexa is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new a new class of drugs to treat patients with severe and life-threatening fibrosis and inflammatory diseases. The company aims to create treatments that will prevent and repair tissue injury, as well as reverse fibrosis and inflammation.

Lipella Pharmaceuticals

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments may create their own collateral damage when used to treat cancer patients. Lipella Pharmaceuticals is developing products that can provide supportive care for cancer survivors with hemorrhagic cystitis. The company also has other urinary bladder conditions products in the pipeline.

Qrono

Qrono Inc, enables medications, patient adherence, patient outcomes and faster time-to-market using an innovative technology to create long-acting injectable formulations.

Sharp Edge Labs

This therapeutics company is developing small molecule drugs for genetic disorders of protein trafficking. The technology Sharp Edge Labs enables the dissection of each step in the lifecycle of a protein in order to better understand the trafficking of the target as well as defects in trafficking caused by mutation.

Cognition Therapeutics

Cognition Therapeutics (CogRX) is developing a small molecule therapeutics targeting the toxic proteins that cause cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative diseases. Earlier this year, the company published clinical data from its Phase 1 trial of its drug Elayta in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.

Knopp Biosciences

Knopp Biosciences seeks to discover, develop and deliver medicines to treat diseases that impose high costs on the healthcare system. Currently their research has led to an investigational compound in clinical development for immunological and hematological disorders, as well as discovery platforms directed to small molecule mediators of epilepsy and neuropathic pain.

Peptilogics

The early-stage biotechnology company Peptilogics is developing systemic anti-infective drugs called Engineered Cationic Antibiotic Peptides (eCAPs). Current pre-clinical data indicate that eCAPS may be effective in treating drug-resistant hospital-acquired infections.

These companies represent just one category of the PLSG portfolio. In addition to these innovative therapeutics companies, we also work with organizations that are shaking things up in the area of Medical Devices, Health IT, Diagnostics, and Bio Tools. You can learn more about those companies here.

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Meet our Companies: Medical Device Innovators in the PLSG Portfolio

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Jim Jordan

This is an exciting time to be involved in life sciences. Our industry is rapidly evolving. Some of that, of course, is connected to the shift in healthcare paradigms as dictated by policy changes and new business models. Another factor, however, is the rapid pace of health technology innovation. Here, at the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, we have the privilege of seeing some of these game changers grow from an idea into a company. In fact, we have worked with nearly 500 companies and scores of entrepreneurs in all aspects of life sciences: Biotech Tools, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Therapeutics and Health IT. Today, we invite you to meet some of the medical device companies within our portfolio.

ALung Technologies

ALung Technologies respiratory assist system, called Hemolung (RAS), is for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a $6.3B worldwide market. Clinical trials are currently underway.

Carmell Therapeutics

Carmell Therapeutics has developed plasma-based bioactive materials (PMA) that contain a concentration of natural regenerative factors that promote healing, reduce complications, and save healthcare costs. The company recently announced the publication of the results of its pre-clinical studies on its tissue healing accelerant for the treatment of cutaneous radiation injury.

Medrobotics

Medrobotics’ flagship product is the Flex® Robotic System, a robot-assisted platform that provides physicians with single-site access and visualization of hard-to-reach anatomical locations. Medrobotics co-founder Howie Choset was recently awarded the 2019 Engelberger Robotics Award for Education in part for his work on the Flex Robotic System.

Quantum OPS

Quantum OPS develops devices that facilitate the effortless, rapid, and secure positioning of a patients’ shoulder, arm, hip or knee for surgery. These devices can be used to safely support anesthetized patients in the proper position for several hours during surgery.

ViaTherm Therapeutics

ViaTherm Therapeutics is an industry leader in diathermy technology. Their therapeutic deep heating products can reduce the pain associated with injury and aging while helping to promote flexibility, mobility and assist circulation.

ChemDAQ Inc.

ChemDAQ Inc.’s toxic (sterilant) gas monitoring systems protect workers from exposure to airborne toxins. The system was originally used in hospital and medical device sterilization operations in the US. It has since expanded internationally and to other industries such as food and beverage processing, water treatment facilities and other industries that use Peracetic Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide or Ethylene Oxide.

Forest Devices

Forest Devices’ ALPHASTROKE helps first responders quickly identify whether a patient has had a stroke so they can route the patient to the proper hospital. This ability to identify and triage stroke victims in the field can reduce the time it takes to begin treatment. This is significant as early treatment can prevent up to 6,000 deaths per year.

Neuro Kinetics

Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (NKI) has developed a unique, eye-tracking technology to be used for non-invasive, neuro-otologic diagnostic testing. The company is expanding its applications to include concussions and is currently conducting clinical trials.

Circadiance

Circadiance has developed respiratory products for individuals with sleep-disordered breathing. These patients need non-invasive ventilation or require monitoring. The company has innovated a collection of comfortable, breathable, easy-care cloth respiratory products designed to improve the patient compliance rate. Circadiance’s NeoPAP CPAP is designed to treat newborns and infants with (or recovering from) respiratory distress syndrome.

Intelomed

Intelomed has redefined the standard of patient monitoring and informatics with their non-invasive device that dynamically assesses a patient’s cardiovascular health by analyzing pulse and pulse oximetry waveforms in response to small perturbations. The company has received FDA and European (CE Mark) approvals for their first product, CVInsight® Patient Monitoring & Informatics System.

PECA Labs

Created out of CEO Doug Bernstein’s personal experience with congenital heart defects, PECA Labs is developing a suite of products designed to improve outcomes for children born with rare congenital heart defects. For example, the company has developed a synthetic valve conduit for pediatric right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction and a valve shunt for the treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).  You can read more about PECA Labs and Doug Bernstein’s story here.

Rinovum Women’s Health

Rinovum’s product, the Stork™, aids in natural fertility and conception by “supported” natural conception conducted in the privacy of a patient’s home. The product is FDA-cleared to be used without a prescription and offers a low-cost alternative to clinical treatment options.

Starr Life Sciences

Starr Life Sciences is a leader in small animal research equipment. Their products include the MouseOx Plus® pulse oximeter, the world’s first and only patented non-invasive vital signs monitor specifically designed for mice, rats and other small laboratory animals.

These companies represent just one category of the PLSG portfolio. In addition to these innovative medical device companies, we also work with innovators that are disrupting the status quo in the areas of Therapeutics, Health IT, Diagnostics, and Bio Tools. You can learn more about those companies here.

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The Synergy of Technology and Humans Will Improve Healthcare

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Jim Jordan

There is no question that technology is disrupting the healthcare industry. From surgical robots to artificial intelligence applications that diagnose diseases, technology is changing the way we practice medicine. Of course, with every news report about a new deep learning tool that identifies cancerous cells years before the human eye can, there’s someone wondering whether technology will render radiologists obsolete. Every time someone writes about telehealth applications or chatbots that guide patients through routine questions, someone else muses about whether these machines will replace physicians.

These questions are understandable. We’ve rapidly entered a new world of medicine, and this swift change of pace can be unsettling. Articles that espouse the capabilities of AI and other tech logically raise questions about the role of humans and machines going forward. However, those who lean into the idea that human medical practitioners will be replaced are missing the mark. Technology is a tool, not a replacement.

Rote Tasks

Disinfecting a room, moving medical equipment from one place to another, lifting bedridden patients, and medication management are all important tasks related to caring for a patient. These tasks can be time consuming and, in some cases, physically demanding. They are also tasks that could be handled by technology. Using robotic assistance for these routine responsibilities would free up medical personnel to do more of what they do best: care for the patient.

Empathy is a Human Strength

Earlier this year, a physician in California delivered devastating news to a patient and his family via a telepresence robot. The exchange sparked a nationwide discussion about the use of technology in medicine. Discussions about the importance of a good bedside manner are not new. Technology simply adds a new layer to it.

The California story is an excellent example of why technology will not eliminate human medical practitioners. Technology cannot replicate human empathy or face-to-face conversation. That’s not to say telehealth tools and other tech aren’t valuable. They absolutely are. They are a tool that can extend access to medical care and address the gaps created by physician shortages. The tech must, however, be balanced with human contact and support. We must recognize when technology is the appropriate medical tool, and when it’s not.

Just the Facts

Machine learning applications can sift through mountains of data and identify patterns.  This process allows the tech to make predictions based on the data through which it has combed. Researchers are using this technology to improve the way we diagnose diseases. These studies are encouraging. Machine learning can often produce a diagnosis faster and more accurately than its human counterpart. What it lacks, however, is the ability to look at those results within the context of a complete patient history. This is still an innately human ability that machines have not mastered and likely won’t. This doesn’t render the machine learning approach irrelevant. It simply illustrates the technology’s strength as a tool to be used by humans to improve patient care.

More Precision

Robotic surgery is another excellent example of the way technology can be a tool that improves patient outcomes. Surgical robots like Medrobotics  Flex® Robotic System give physicians the ability to access anatomical locations that were previously difficult or impossible to reach minimally invasively.  Perhaps a better way to describe what’s happening in today’s surgical suites is “robot-assisted surgery.” These procedures aren’t performed by autonomous bots. There’s a trained, skilled physician manning the controls.

This is an exciting time to be involved with the life sciences industry. The examples listed above are just the tip of the health IT iceberg. As innovators like those that make up the PLSG portfolio develop new tools, healthcare continues its massive transformation to the benefit of both patients and providers.

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Video: Telehealth: Lowering Costs and Improving Access, Particularly in Rural Settings

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Jim Jordan

Video: Telehealth: Lowering Costs and Improving Access, Particularly in Rural Settings

Posted in Uncategorized, Health IT, Words of Wisdom, ConcentrationsLeave a comment

The Next Frontier in Health Technology: Virtual Reality as a Medical Tool

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Jim Jordan

In 1974, Star Trek’s animated series introduced its audience to the holodeck, a bit of futuristic technology that would eventually appear in multiple iterations of the science fiction classic from television programs to the big screen. This recreation room was designed to create simulated, alternative versions of reality. In this simulated world, crew members could engage with their virtual environment as if it was the real world. Sound familiar?

Today, you don’t need a full deck on a spaceship to experience an alternate reality. We have virtual reality headsets and augmented reality apps that run off our mobile phones. While there’s certainly a home for these applications as an entertainment medium, we are increasingly seeing the strength of extended reality (XR) as a health and wellness tool that can improve patient outcomes.

What’s XR?

Before we can explore how this technology can improve quality of care, and thereby improve outcomes, we need to define the category. Extended reality is the umbrella term that encompasses all real and virtual combined environments. It includes:

  • Virtual Reality (VR) – full immersion in a digital environment.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) – overlays virtual objects on the real-world environment.
  • Mixed Reality (MR) – anchors virtual objects in the real world. Objects here are not just overlaid into the real world–the real world can interact with these virtual objects.

Improving Quality Through Training

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, a traditional med school curriculum combines two years of pre-clinical science training – where students learn basic medical concepts – with two additional years of clinical study. In these clinical study years, students are given hands-on experience with patients.  Extended reality technologies add a new twist to this educational model. Virtual simulations of real-life medical scenarios allow students to make medical decisions in a safe environment before they engage with actual patients. Today’s technology isn’t a replacement for real-life clinical rounds, but it can be a good supplemental component that gives students an opportunity to prepare for direct patient engagement.

Improving Quality through Surgical Walk-Throughs

Imagine if your physician could walk through your surgery before you slip into a hospital gown the day of your procedure. Facilities like Stanford Medicine are using virtual reality to change the way physicians prepare for surgery. Stanford’s Neurosurgical Simulation and Virtual Reality Center feeds conventional MRI and/or CT scans into VR technology, which allows their physicians to see the brain in 3D and walk through complex procedures via a simulated surgery. This process can help mitigate any unexpected challenges the surgery may present.

Improving Quality through Surgery Guided by Extended Reality

In 2017, a team of researchers conducted a proof-of-concept study to explore the potential benefits of using augmented reality to superimpose digital images on top of the visual field during surgical procedures. In December of that year, a surgeon used an MR headset to access patient medical data and data of the operative technique during a procedure to implant a prosthesis into an 80-year-old patient.  The surgeon was also able to share his field of vision with four additional surgeons via Skype, which would allow collaborative input during the procedure. The study’s authors concluded that, “surgical practice and education can derive significant benefits from the implementation of AR and MR tools in daily practice.”

Improving Quality Using Extended Reality as Treatment

A number of studies have looked at virtual reality’s value as a treatment for psychiatric disorders and pain management. Through the course of these studies, virtual reality has proven to be an effective tool, particularly, as noted in a systematic literature review published in Harvard Review of Psychiatry in 2017, “with the most strength of evidence for use in exposure therapy for patients with anxiety disorders, cue exposure therapy for patients with substance use disorders, and distraction for patients with acute pain requiring painful procedures.”

Looking to the Future

As with any medical technology, extended reality’s value lies in its application as a tool. Effective use, for example, in medical training lies in recognizing that virtual experiences don’t replace real-life patient interaction. Simulated experiences offer supplementary practice, not substitution. Applications that tap into extended reality’s strength in pre-surgical planning, pain-management, or psychiatric treatment require thorough physician training prior to use. Like any other medical tool, medical personnel must be trained on how to appropriately utilize the technology for the benefit of the patient.

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