The general public has been swooning over Google Glass since the introduction of the Explorer program last year, in which people could apply to be “the first to make, tinker, create, shape, and share through Glass.” A significant amount of these applications came from doctors and hospital affiliates wanting to incorporate the technology into their practice. Joseph Keenan’s article on http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com explains the experiences and concerns of some doctors who have already begun working with Google Glass.
The technology associated with Google Glass allows doctors to view medical images, hold video conferences, stream operations online, and record what they see, all while performing a procedure. Additional software is currently in process to enable doctors to view a patient’s vital signs, medical history, lab results, and surgical checklists. While most agree this technology would be useful in the future of healthcare, there are still major privacy and safety concerns. Many hospitals and clinics have even decided to ban Google Glass pending FDA approval to avoid HIPAA non-compliance issues and safety risks.
Despite the risk factors, Google Glass presents medical practitioners with a unique opportunity for education and innovation. Keenan shares that one doctor, Dr. Selene Parekh, has been using Glass for over a year to record his orthopedic surgeries at Duke Medical Center. His goal is to be able to broadcast these surgeries as a learning tool for other surgeons in countries that may not be as up-to-date. In another case, Dr. Paul Szotek, a trauma surgeon at IU Health Methodist Hospital here in Indianapolis, has been using Glass to give students a first-person perspective on medical procedures.
To read Joseph Keenan’s article, click here.
To read the article including Dr. Szotek’s work, click here.