Virtual Reality Consent – What is it and how will it affect me?
FeM Surgery revolutionises informed patient consent via virtual reality.
- The first clinic in Singapore to adopt VR technology for the surgical consent process
- Patients can now opt to see an entire medical procedure at the pre-surgery stage through VR tools to better understand the operation
- Service will significantly enhance the consent process with a clearer explanation of surgical procedure regardless of a patient’s educational background or language preference
The nerves of stepping into surgery are unmatched – especially if it is your first major operation. Where will I be cut? What will be removed? What exactly will be happening inside me? Although we cannot promise an out-of-body observational experience as of yet, we might just have the next best thing – a virtual walkthrough.
This is FeM Surgery’s first foray into adopting digital reality tools such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) at the pre-surgery stage to further enhance the group’s capabilities for patient-focused care.
In this post, we will introduce our pioneer Virtual Reality Consent Service and explore its importance for the future of healthcare.
What is Virtual Reality Consent?
In short, it simply refers to using the tools and technology of virtual reality (i.e. headset, controller, VR videos) to recreate a simulation of a surgical procedure for a user. The goal is to aid a patient’s understanding of a procedure through the help of a visual walkthrough, which in turn eases them into giving consent to the said operation.
In 2020, FeM Surgery was the first clinic in Singapore to launch a VR Consent Service, designed with the help of Silver Wings Interactive Solutions. This was another step we took towards being at the forefront of providing patient-centred care. By embracing VR, it helps patients foster a better understanding of what they will be going through during the surgery, giving them peace of mind before they undergo the procedure.
What does Virtual Reality Consent look like?
VR Consent is accessible to patients at the FeM Surgery clinic and the service currently covers 5 surgical procedures offered by the group. Having successfully used this technology with its patients, FeM Surgery intends to continue adding more procedures to their VR offering.
Monica Ramirez, a patient at FeM Surgery who was undergoing breast surgery, felt that even though she was given ample explanations about her procedure, that the VR consent further elevated her understanding of the operation more realistically.
“Looking at the VR scenario, it has helped me deal with the anxiety of the unknown.”, she said.
Why is Virtual Reality Consent important?
Before a patient goes into surgery, surgeons will traditionally explain the procedure and what to expect through photographs, videos and 3D objects. However, it is still difficult to fully visualise the entire process, causing fear and anxiety for many patients – especially those with communication barriers.
Therefore, by tapping on the merits of virtual reality technology, we can achieve a clearer explanation of surgical procedures regardless of a patient’s educational background or language preference. This translates to a deeper understanding of why and how each surgery is carried out, possible complications, and what to look out for post-surgery – all in all, helping to reassure patients and take care of their concerns.
What is the future of Virtual Reality Consent?
By adopting immersive digital reality tools, we hope to showcase the boundless possibilities behind enhancing the patient diagnosis and treatment processes and pave the way to redefining the patient experience.
Through such initiatives, we aim to continuously listen to our patients and work on innovations that address their concerns, while also making technology available to the wider medical community and raising the bar for the healthcare industry as a whole.