THE IDEA of the metaverse is very real and it’s considered by many to be the next evolution of the internet.
Whether you’ve come across Mark Zuckerberg’s virtual avatars, live concerts in Fortnite, or a digital art gallery in Decentraland, there’s no escaping the metaverse.
But how could it transform healthcare as we know it?
I have been involved with health policy for much of my career.
I have practiced in neurology for over 16 years and because of provider shortages have struggled with policymakers to free up restrictions many of my patients have encountered to increase their access to healthcare.
Many of my patients were unable to make appointments because of a number of issues and virtual appointments/telephone appointments were not permissible under prior law; that is until Covid-19 landed at our door.
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The presence of this virus in the setting of mandated quarantines and stay-at-home orders gave rise to the virtual appointment.
With much of my practice shifting from office to inpatient coverage in order to help the flow of three local hospitals, my patients were not permitted into our office setting.
However, their epilepsy, multiple sclerosis or headaches didn’t care that there was a stay-at-home order.
These patients still needed quality care and the virtual appointment was how they were able to still receive it.
I found myself rounding at one hospital in the morning, and then going home to conduct virtual appointments in the afternoon.
Medications were renewed, imaging and labs were discussed and options for home therapy programs were accomplished.
What I did notice, is even though I was unable to personally examine these patients, they felt their needs were met and outcomes seemingly remained the same.
I have long been fascinated with cryptocurrency and the development of the metaverse.
As meetings shift from personal gatherings to virtual ones via Skype or Zoom, the development of a refined version was inevitable.
Healthcare providers are no longer travelling the world to learn about medications or alternative treatment options.
Instead, they are gathering via whatever virtual platform their company utilizes to learn about the product or device for a few hours or days.
Many medical conferences now have in-person as well as virtual options.
How long before they are just being conducted in the metaverse via an application that still may be in development?
Since virtual appointments are now becoming more commonplace and meetings are being steered toward purely virtual attendance, how long before I can open my own personal clinic in the metaverse? My opinion.
That time is now, and I am getting started.
HEALTHCARE IN THE METAVERSE
Instead of a real-life building, the medical provider can share a link with a patient that is good for a certain appointment time.
Just like other platforms, I, as the provider can allow access to the patient when it is their appointment time.
That patient would then enter the room and we would have a real-time discussion regarding their difficulties.
These appointments, like any that are in-person, can last as long as the patient or I need. When the appointment is over, they can exit the room paving the way for the next patient encounter.
Now that insurers are on board with virtual appointments (meaning they now cover the cost for a patient having one), they have essentially legitimized the benefit of the appointment. Insurers are still typically constrained by state lines and because the metaverse is not exactly within this boundary, they will more than likely not reimburse providers for their services; at least, not yet.
Providers will not be doing these appointments for free but rather will need to find alternative options to collect any and all fees.
One option would be to be paid in cryptocurrency.
Whether it be Bitcoin or alternative options, fees can easily be exchanged from wallet to wallet, but I believe there is a more viable or explainable option.
The provider can sell a non-fungible token (NFT) which comes with it an asset such as an appointment.
Many famous athletes have sold NFTs that come with real-life experiences.
Why could the provider not sell a picture of a lab coat that comes with an appointment in this Metaverse meeting room?
For example, 200 lab coat pic NFTs can be for sale on a platform.
Each coat comes with a different date and time for an appointment, such as March 30, 2024, at 2pm.
Less expensive lab coats for 20-minute appointments and more expensive lab cots for 40-minute appointments.
The NFT one purchases depends on the patient’s own-perceived needs.
Certainly, there are limitations, such as the inability to conduct a thorough physical exam.
These appointments come with the understanding that this is not entirely possible … yet.
I am sure this will change, soon.
These appointments would be beneficial to discuss issues, concerns, gain opinions and discuss recommendations.
Appointments would be ideal for second opinions or discussing what others have recommended and what common directions are taken for such recommendations.
These appointments would not be ideal for prescriptions, surgical evaluation or other medical diseases that require hands-on evaluations.
How is this any different than what we are already doing?
Appointments are being evaluated daily, by patient and provider, as to whether it requires in-person evaluation or can be handled in the virtual world.
I see no change within the metaverse and in-fact, the patient has more control because the patients are the ones buying the NFT for a specific virtual appointment date and time.
They have the control, which is the way it should be in all aspects of life, not just healthcare.
The patient/consumer, not insurer or provider should be in control.
Virtual appointments are already here and we as providers and patients need to understand how it can be applied within the metaverse.
I believe there is a way to provide quality care across state and country lines.
There is a way for patients to pay for services and delineate how they would like to be evaluated and who they would like to be evaluated by.
Healthcare in the Metaverse gives the patient more control and could, in fact, lower healthcare costs, decrease Emergency Room evaluations and free-up wait times in certain specialities.
I personally cannot wait to ‘see’ my first metaverse patient.