In Chicago, Rush University Medical center is using virtual reality techniques to train their training obstetrics and gynecology students surgical techniques. This will improve the lives of the medical center as they no longer have to practice on animals but get a real feel on how to operate on humans. The cost of this training module is $24,000 which is not much in order to make sure their students are well trained and mentally prepared for their field. The more practice these students receive the more credible they will be out in the field. This virtual reality module will allow every students to try and try surgeries without having to spend money on replacing animals and instruments. A video game that can help save lives in the future.
In an interview Beck said "We'll be able to practice everything from basic concepts to full surgeries and receive feedback in real time,". The system "scores competency — how effective your movement was, how long it took you to complete the task — and then gives you a percentage."
Virtual reality was made popular in 2016 when virtual reality headsets were introduced at technology conventions. A feature that is available to everyone through a headset put together with a smart phone. Society has been more than excited for Virtual reality to be used to improve gaming, lifestyle, and change the way we use our smart phone.
Pros V Cons
The pros of using Virtual reality in the medical field is that it can cut cost of having to get resources to college students. Every college student has paid their share and need the college to provide with what they have paid for. This may prove to be more helpful for students to learn at a faster pace. It can create an environment where students can become comfortable during a procedure.
The cons is that a joystick is not the same as holding a medical instrument that must be held and moved properly. The elements of pressure and precision is missing and replaced with a small flick of a finger. Just like any video game clicking “x” is not the same as properly holding a gun or a tool. The Medical center will still have hands on training but will this virtual reality module prove to be effective. Will it be a distraction to the actual benefits of having a real animal to dissect and practice efficiently on.
This module will take place in August and will bring students farther than ever before. This is important because soon many practicing Medical students will be able to use virtual reality to their advantage to perfect their techniques. Universities will see this as a cost efficient strategy to fund in order to give the best education to their students. This announcement is important as it is a direction every one is going towards. To use technology in order to improve the lives of our society. To have less medical mistakes due to the lack of knowledge or practice. That one day this one step of using Virtual Reality to teach will lead to a higher success rate of surgeries. Doctors are humans to so they make mistakes but to decrease the chances can save the medical industry Millions. Society is all about progress and raising the question of “How can we progress our lives.”
The question is if Virtual reality is any different from modern medicine. We use technology in more than half of the medicine practices that is far more advanced than what people. We use 3D printing to create and replicate organs and modern X-ray equipment to solve problems. We can already create 3D images of the human body . Virtual reality is only something new to the common household but not to Medical Practices. Virtual reality could just be another small tool into advancing medicine and not this huge leap forward.
