Augmented Reality in Nursing

An article by Inderpreet Shoker on ARC Advisory Group, looks at how Augmented Reality can be used in nursing, as well as discussing the shortage of nurses in the healthcare industry.

AR employs displays, cameras, and various types of sensors to augment the user’s real-world environment with artificial perceptual experience. While AR is not a new concept, advancements in areas such as computer vision, sensing technologies, data storage, displays, and software technologies have now made AR a much more practical solution for consumer, commercial, and industrial adoption.

AR in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has been quick to realize the benefits of AR.  The industry has shown major interest in the technology and, as a result, many AR applications have already been developed for the healthcare world to address some of its major challenges, including staffing shortages. Below, we discuss some of the areas, where AR can help.

Using AR in Nursing – Vein Visualization

To name one common example of Nursing, finding a vein, to draw blood or give intravenous injections can be a challenging and time-consuming task.  Multiple attempts can cause comfort to the patient and also create frustration and anxiety for nurses. AccuVein, a medical imaging solutions company, has made the process easier for patients and nurses alike.  The company’s vein illumination devices use AR to allow healthcare professionals to see a map of peripheral veins on the skin’s surface.  According to the company, with AccuVein, it is 3.5 times more likely to find a vein on the first try.  Another company, VeinSeek, is also helping to visualize veins.  With VeinSeek, users do not need any special equipment, they can use their smartphone cameras.  The company’s application VeinSeek Pro and VeinSeek are available for iOS and Android devices.

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