For this latest assignment, I was to create an avatar to explore the features of Second Life and think about how it could be used in doctor-patient relationships.
I have been a reluctant participant in virtual reality games, especially those online, because of my concerns of being in a world where everyone is not necessarily who they appear to be. This coupled with my doubt as to what the true point of these types of games was I started this assignment with a skeptical and critical viewpoint. I have read articles about our men and women in uniform coming back from war and utilizing virtual reality as a way to treat and deal with various medical conditions such as PTSD to restore them to a quality of life near or equal to a level prior to their experience in battle. With the research showing the potential success for these situations, I am all for its use. But, I am skeptical about how viable and beneficial it will be in the more mundane healthcare situations, and I am having a hard time thinking outside the box about how I would use it in my own healthcare.
The field of psychiatry I believe is the one area that Second Life can most easily be integrated into patient care. It provides patients a safe and controlled environment to work through issues and situations that cannot necessarily be replicated in the real world. For everyday healthcare, I am unsure what benefits there could be in the virtual world. There is a possibility this virtual world could be used for doctor visits instead of video teleconferencing. Even though webcams are fairly cheap these days, Second Life only requires a computer with software that anyone can access and an internet connection. To maintain privacy, a private forum would be needed which would be an additional expense. Communicating via this online method may improve the amount and accuracy of the information the patient provides the doctor resulting in improved care the doctor can provide. The patient has the benefit of dedicated one-on-one time with the doctor, but may feel more comfortable sharing certain information when not "face-to-face." However, this could also be a hindrance to the doctor-patient relationship because the doctor will not be able to pick up on certain visual and verbal (if voice chat is not utilized) cues that may help direct the doctor in his/her assessment. I think, overall, Second Life is more beneficial in providing education and support of patients in their own healthcare.
Palomar-Pomerado Hospital has a virtual hospital tour of the new facilities it will be unveiling in 2011. This type of setup could benefit patients in that they could see what type of facilities they will receive treatment in as well as the process they will go through from admission to discharge. Being a surgical nurse, I think this would be beneficial for surgical patients who experience quite a bit of anxiety when faced with a surgical procedure. This would allow them to have some idea of where and what will be happening to them in a situation that can easily be perceived as out of their hands. The virtual world would also be able to put them in the perspective of what they would have in reality (i.e. transfer from pre-operative check-in on a gurney/bed to the operating room).
Second Life could also be a more interactive support forum utilized by patients who have the same conditions, whether acute or chronic. Also, this could be a forum for groups to provide information and support. From the Wikipedia listing of Businesses and Organizations in Second Life,
Imperial College London (ICL) developed a virtual hospital and a series of documentary films (machinima) that describe what healthcare of the future could look like from the patient's perspective. The design of the virtual hospital campus, Second Health, is based on the principles and recommendations outlined in the recently published Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action. This work was initially managed by Dave Taylor at NPL who subsequently moved to ICL, where the Medical Media and Design Lab continue to undertake research to evaluate the effectiveness of this new medium for public engagement, collaboration, professional education and patient information and safety in the National Health Service. (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Businesses_and_organizations_in_Second_Life, retrieved November 4, 2010).
There is a potential for helping the doctor-patient relationship in providing a place for information sharing and potentially conducting virtual visits. But, there will be some barriers to use. There is the cost of maintaining a forum that will address the privacy concerns the patient may have. There is a learning curve in being able to effectively navigate the virtual world, which will require a certain time investment of both the doctor and the patient. This could also require the doctor to become a technology resource to help guide the patient in how to operate in the virtual world to ensure the utilization of this method is effective for both of them. I’m still skeptical about the use of Second Life for other healthcare uses outside of psychiatric medicine. But, I know there are many ways healthcare entities are utilizing Second Life that I am not aware of and look forward to discovering them.
