Great news for patients in rural and remote areas
A project funded by the Aus4Innovation program is using Augmented Reality (AR) technology to help health experts in urban centres mentor rural practitioners virtually. This technology can support rural patients in critical condition through enabling consultations with top health experts in central areas without having to travel. This makes healthcare more affordable and inclusive.
AR is an immersive experience in which the real world is enhanced by computer-generated three-dimensional content. Practitioners at provincial hospitals and clinics can put on the goggles, call experts at central hospitals and share what they see so both parties can troubleshoot issues in real-time and handle critical cases together.
Implemented by the University of Tasmania in collaboration with Bach Mai Hospital, the project has successfully completed a pilot at Yen Bai Hospital. Around 90% of the health workers at both hospitals who tried on the technology found the technology highly useful and effective. 94% of the patients were happy that doctors from Bach Mai supported Yen Bai Hospital, making sure appropriate care was provided.
IT staff at the hospitals were also trained to provide timely technical support for the doctors and are now well placed to train others.
Application of the technology will also provide health workers in rural areas with the opportunities for on-the-job trainings and prompt assistance from central level experts.
