Revolutionizing Telehealth: Holograms in Modern Healthcare

In an era where telehealth is evolving at an unprecedented rate, a Tennessee cancer clinic is leading the way with a revolutionary new approach: replacing traditional video calls with life-size holograms of doctors. This new model of telehealth, which goes beyond the typical video conferencing system, aims to enhance the patient experience and bridge the gap between rural communities and specialized medical care.

The Challenge of Rural Healthcare

Access to specialized healthcare has always been a challenge for patients in rural areas, where clinics are few and far between, and travel to large hospitals can often be time-consuming and costly. For patients in places like Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, seeing an oncologist usually involves hours of travel, with the added hurdle of lengthy video consultations that do not always offer the best connection or human touch.

A Bold New Approach

Last year, West Cancer Center & Research Institute patients were given an intriguing option: instead of having a regular video conference with an oncologist located far away, they could now speak to their doctor via hologram. Beamed from a small studio in Germantown, Tenn., these doctors appear as life-size holograms in designated exam rooms at clinics in Corinth, Miss., and Paris, Tenn.

This innovation comes from Proto Hologram, a Los Angeles-based company known for creating holograms at live events and concerts. Using Proto’s technology, doctors are projected into the clinic as three-dimensional images, offering patients a more natural and immersive interaction than pixelated video calls. As Dr. Sylvia Richey, Chief Medical Officer and Medical Oncologist at West Cancer Center, explains, “You get my body language, my hand motions, there’s expression that can be conveyed, which, as you can imagine, in an oncology visit is very important.”

How It Works

The technology uses specialized 4K LCD screens with a custom lighting setup that creates the illusion of a hologram. The doctors appear to be standing in front of the patient in real life size, but the patients themselves are not projected as holograms to the doctors. Instead, they communicate via a traditional video setup, which Dr. Richey believes gives the patient a more realistic experience.

“I can see the patient well enough to recognize a rash, lump, or problem. I can’t feel everything. But oftentimes, that’s all we need,” she explains.

Cost and Technology Behind the Innovation

The technology used at West Cancer Center represents a $70,000 investment in Proto’s hologram boxes and software. Proto has significantly reduced the cost of its equipment, down from $65,000 to $29,000, making it more accessible for healthcare providers. The software that powers the projections is HIPAA-compliant, ensuring patient privacy, and costs $5,000 per year after the first year.

Proto, which started by creating holograms for concerts and corporate events, is now tapping into healthcare with growing interest. The company is working with organizations such as Indigenous Pact, a Native American healthcare service, to deploy this technology in new clinics, with the first opening in Northern California later this year.

The Future of Healthcare Communication

While the technology is still relatively new, it’s clear that it could transform how healthcare is delivered, especially in underserved communities. According to Doug Barry, Proto’s co-founder, “We believe 2D communication/displays are going away,” signaling a future where traditional video calls might be replaced by more immersive and realistic holographic communication tools.

However, Todd Bouman, Proto’s newly appointed CEO, acknowledges that healthcare remains a secondary market for the company, with their primary focus on live events and corporate communications. However, with growing demand and the ability to reduce costs, this holographic technology could likely soon become a mainstay in healthcare, especially for telemedicine applications.

A Step Toward the Future

Though still in its early stages, holographic telehealth offers a glimpse of what’s possible in the intersection of technology and healthcare. As Dr. Richey puts it, “You’re not pixelated. There aren’t crazy parts of your body missing. It’s amazing.” For patients in rural communities, the hope is that these holographic innovations will make healthcare more accessible, engaging, and effective.

Reference: The Hologram Doctor Will See You Now – The Wall Street Journal.