Health IT

Google Glass hits the healthcare bigtime: Philips + Accenture make patient data delivery proof of concept

http://youtu.be/djVMu8kL_po Heavyweight Philips announced it partnered with Accenture to bring a Google Glass patient data delivery proof-of-concept to life. This means it’s not just startups investing and innovating in the Google Glass space in healthcare anymore. Above, watch the (highly disclaimed) video of the proof-of-concept. It’s the early days, but this is the first bold […]

By Lindsey Alexander on October 03, 2013

http://youtu.be/djVMu8kL_po
Heavyweight Philips announced it partnered with Accenture to bring a Google Glass patient data delivery proof-of-concept to life. This means it’s not just startups investing and innovating in the Google Glass space in healthcare anymore. Above, watch the (highly disclaimed) video of the proof-of-concept.

It’s the early days, but this is the first bold announcement from a big, established healthcare company to say it’s researching and spending money on Google Glass.

While the product has only been tested in simulation (not on real patients), Philips claims the product would allow doctors to monitor a patient’s vital signs remotely or without turning away from a surgery, as well as the ability to enlist the advice or expertise of doctors around the world.

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The future of Philips’ and Accentures’ Google Glass research won’t surprise you, especially if you follow startup news. Qualcomm Life and Palomar Health recently launched an incubator specifically for startups developing Glass medical apps. At RockHealth last week, hot (and secretive) Glass startup Augmedix talked business. Plus, these startups are getting funded. All these make it an attractive option for a big company (or two) to come onto the scene. In a press release, Philips outlined many of the potential uses we’ve heard before:

  • Accessing a near real-time feed of vital signs in Google Glass;

  • Calling up images and other patient data by clinicians from anywhere in the hospital;

  • Accessing a pre-surgery safety checklist;

  • Giving clinicians the ability to view the patient in the recovery room after surgery;

  • Conducting live, first-person point-of-view videoconferences with other surgeons or medical personnel; and

  • Recording surgeries from a first-person point-of-view for training purposes.

“We live in a world where being nimble is key and industry-altering ideas need to be converted to practical solutions that people can use,” Michael Mancuso, the CEO of patient care and clinical informatics at Philips Healthcare, said in a press release. “This research explores how doctors can achieve better access to the right information at the right time so they can focus on more efficient and effective patient care. It’s a first step in researching how existing technologies can be applied to improve the quality of life of patients.”

Being nimble is right.

Startups, do you want the good or bad news first? The bad news is obvious: competing with large corporations for dollars, talent and connections. The good news? This means major players are taking your technology and Google Glass seriously. You’re onto something.