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Health Care Providers Could Use a Second Life

I frequently speak to health care providers and hospitals associations on the future of health care. More often than not my message about how emerging technologies in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology, genomics, stem cell research and robotics will transform the field is greeted with an open mind.

However, when I discuss how Internet-based technologies and virtual reality sites such as Second Life can help them train employees as well as diagnose patients, my message is often greeted with skepticism. It is an understandable reaction (after all, the technology is fairly new), but I’d argue that it is wrong and providers who are refusing—or are reluctant—to embrace the technology are missing a grand opportunity to both save money and better assist their patients.

A wonderful case in point is this recent article from The Guardian. It is entitled ”Teenagers to take embarassing ailments to Second Life doctors” and it discusses how a health care facility in Spain recently launched a virtual portal in Second Life aimed at diagnosing young people who are too embarassed to speak to a doctor about sexually transmitted diseases.

To my mind, it is a great example of “jumping the curve” and embracing the future. Yet there is no reason why the technology should only be aimed at teenagers. As a middle-aged man myself, I know a great many of my peers would benefit from seeing a doctor more often but, for a variety of reasons, refuse to do so. The same is true for elderly people or patients located in remote rural areas. In each instance, virtual reality sites could be created that cater to the unique needs of these different demographics and entice them to receive medical information.

It is not my contention that virtual reality sites are a complete fix. I know many patients will continue to refuse to use the technology. Still, if smartly deployed and targeted at key constituencies, such sites can become a cost-effective weapon in delivering preventative health care information.

Interested in other health care-related posts? Check out these recent articles:

The Future of Health Care: Part 3 (Robotics)The Robot Will See You Now
Hospitals Robotic Future: Part 2
Hospitals Robotic Future: Part 1
Hospitals Get a Lift

Jack Uldrich is a writer, futurist, public speaker and host of jumpthecurve.net. He is the author of seven books, including Jump the Curve and The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business. He is also a frequent speaker on future trends, innovation, change management and executive leadership to a variety of businesses, industries and non-profit organizations and associations.

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