Informed consent is paramount to building trust between a patient and their physician. It occurs when a patient gives authorization or the agreement to undergo a specific medical intervention. This has always been done by the doctor explaining the procedure to the patient and the patient consenting on a form with the terms of the procedure. This may seem like a proactive step towards patient authorization and safety, but informed consent has long lacked the true validation of being informed.
Imaging Technology
Although remarkably effective in what they do, CAT scans and MRIs are not very intuitive to read. Doctors undergo years of schooling to understand how these charts and image sets are read. If a doctor’s diagnosis for surgery is based on a scan, it is unlikely that it can be explained to the patient in less than a few hours.
The average person will not have the skill set needed to accurately read a CAT scan or other images about their specific procedure. While the doctor can explain the procedure to the extent of their teaching ability, it is not guaranteed the doctor can teach what is needed to inform.
Augmented Reality Advances
As AR in the medical field is advancing rapidly, there seem to be more uses for it every day. We believe that informed consent needs restructuring to live up to its true definition. Far too often, patients will suffer irreversible consequences because of misinformation or incompetence towards the procedure.
By projecting these previously two-dimensional images into a Microsoft HoloLens or augmented reality headset we can properly show the patient their ailment with maximum clarity and user engagement. This 3D model technology will help speed up the informed consent processes and keep doctors efficient with their time.
Patients will be able to interact with their imaging and have the doctor point out where the problem is. They will be able to see a walkthrough of their procedure in the program and will truly understand the extent of their operation.
The ability to fully inform a patient in half time is a breakthrough for augmented informed consent. It will help avoid discrepancies in the procedure while fostering a better environment for patients and their wellbeing. At DICOM Director we are developing software solutions in pursuit of medical advancement every day.
