Metaverse: Evolving role in healthcare delivery and implications

Abstract

Metaverse, or the immersive internet, is touted as the next considerable technology-led disruption on the horizon, which can potentially disrupt clinician–patient interactions, patient experience, innovation and research and development processes. Metaverse is still in the evolution phase, and its firm definition framework is a work in progress. Surgical training allows the trainees to mimic procedures and simulate cross-collaborations within time and space, shortening the learning cycles. Similarly, patient experiences can be built by creating unique experiences replicating the real world without constraints. At the same time, the care providers can foster greater empathy while serving the patients with regular or special specific needs per disease conditions.

Metaverse in Nursing: A Concept Analysis

“…In this age of medical breakthroughs and technology, the metaverse has attracted global interest as a groundbreaking digital environment with the potential to offer a diverse array of healthcare. One of the major technology-driven disruptions that may occur soon is the metaverse, often known as the "immersive internet" [14]. This might have an impact on patient experience, physician-patient interactions, innovation, research and development procedures.…”