Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Google Glass in Healthcare

OR Executive Summit attendees get peek at Google Glass As part of the OR Executive Summit, Keith Siddel, MBA, JD, CHC, led the session, “The Future of Google Glass: Half Empty or Half Full?,” which discussed the effects of new wearable technology in the perioperative setting and why Google Glass may be a game changer for health care delivery models. Siddel, the first person in the world to go skydiving wearing Google Glass, is part of a Google Glass test group known as “explorers.” He shared his own personal experience of applying for the test group, getting fitted for the technology, and wearing his Google Glass for the first time. “Wearing Google Glass I can see everything that’s on my smartphone on a 19-inch screen next to your head when I talk to you,” said Siddel. “You might think that would be a little distracting. You’re right, it is.” Siddel stressed that wearing his Google Glass very quickly became as normal as putting a smartphone on his belt. “It’s no more distracting when there isn’t any information to see,” he said. Siddel walked attendees through how to use Google Glass (eg, tilt your head to turn it on) and shared examples of how to use it (eg, getting directions to a location). “Anything you can do on Google search, you can do with Google Glass,” said Siddel. “The possibilities are endless.” Siddel described how Google Glass has the potential to change health care delivery models, for example, those related to documentation, patient engagement, and patient data. For example, Siddel, shared that there are apps in development that can be used on Google Glass to video record discharge instructions given to patients. Siddel concluded the presentation by asking audience members if their facility has a policy for wearable technology and recommended developing such policies now.