Google Glass has the potential to revolutionize the way we practice emergency medicine. In this article, we consider three novel uses for augmented reality in the ED.
Google Glass has the potential to revolutionize the way we practice emergency medicine. In this article, we consider three novel uses for augmented reality in the ED.
1. Just the facts
One drawback of electronic records: the basic stuff (patient’s name, chief complaint, vitals) resides on a computer, which is rarely available when you walk into a patient’s room. Glass could solve that by using proximity sensors (or barcodes). As soon as you come close to a new patient, you’d see their important information, making you look well-informed and focused on the patient.
2. Line of sight
Ultrasound guidance has been a godsend for procedures, but at critical junctures you’ve still got to crane your neck away from the patient – and your needle – to see the screen. But with an interface between your sono machine and bluetooth-enabled Glass, what the probe sees can be overlaid on your field of vision, minimizing your head movement and potentially improving odds of first-pass success. [photo courtesy of NYSORA]
3. Stayin’ alive
A lot’s going on during a code – and it’s easy to lose track of time. If you let Glass know you’re running a code, it can display a metro- nome-like beat (shown here with the blinking red dot) to optimize chest compressions, and also help remind you of your other critical time interventions during resuscitation, such as outlined in Neonatal Resuscitation and ACLS. [photo by Ashley Gilbertson]