Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust uses mixed reality in the fight against COVID-19

Pandemic sparks need for dramatic change

Dr. James Kinross is a consultant surgeon and senior lecturer at Imperial College.  While attending a trauma call in the early stages of the pandemic, Mr Kinross noticed that 29 people were working in close proximity.  He realised the established way of working would have to change dramatically.

His solution was based on a simple concept made possible by high-tech innovation.  Mr Kinross explains, “the simple concept was we’re going to create virtual ward rounds.  So rather than sending four people, we’re going to send one doctor.”

Imperial chooses Microsoft HoloLens 2

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust chose to adopt Microsoft HoloLens 2 and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist. “We needed an innovative solution. I’ve used HoloLens before in surgery and we quickly realised it had a unique role to play because we could take advantage of its hands-free telemedicine capabilities. Most importantly, it could be used while wearing PPE. It solved a major problem for us during a crisis, by allowing us to keep treating very ill patients while limiting our exposure to a deadly virus. Not only that, it reduced our PPE consumption and significantly improved the efficiency of our ward rounds.”

Rather than put users in a fully computer-generated world, as virtual reality does, HoloLens allows users to place 3D digital models in the room alongside them and interact with them using gestures, gaze and voice.

Using Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, doctors wearing HoloLens, can hold “hands-free” and “heads-up” Teams video calls with colleagues and experts anywhere in the world. They can receive advice, interacting with the caller and the patient at the same time, while medical notes and X-rays can also be placed alongside the call in the wearer’s field of view.

Mr Kinross says, ‘What it means is that you have all the information, all the specialist care you need at the patient’s bedside there and then – and it’s all in one headset.’

The legacy of Covid-19

“Covid-19 will change everything forever in terms of the way we work and how we work,” Dr. Kinross continues, “I can see the point where these sorts of tools will be the norm.”

“We’re now looking into other areas where we can use HoloLens because it is improving healthcare without removing the human; you still have a doctor next to your bed, treating you,” Kinross said. “Patients like it, too. They are interested in this new piece of technology that’s helping them.”

“I think what’s been very important about Covid-19 is actually it’s just given us a real shot in the arm and a huge step change in our perception of these technologies and what value they might bring.”