New Israeli VR App Enhances Doctor-Patient Empathy

Medical practitioners often face high-stress environments, which can hinder their ability to empathize fully with patients. This lack of empathy can lead to emotional stress for patients, potentially affecting their recovery.

Enter OrtheReality, an Israeli startup leveraging virtual reality (VR) to allow healthcare professionals to experience treatments from their patients' perspectives. Co-founder and COO Yotvat Palter-Dycian emphasizes the need for doctors to see patients as individuals with problems, not as problems themselves.

Developed in partnership with Bar-Ilan University and Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Innovation Center, OrtheReality is currently being piloted at Sheba and other Israeli hospitals. Motti Neiger, co-founder and chief creative officer, and a communications professor at Bar-Ilan University, highlights the global impact of empathy deficits, not only in healthcare but also in education, business, and beyond.

Neiger notes, "A lack of empathy is affecting everyone everywhere. It’s not only in the healthcare field. There is a lot of research on this."

The consequences of empathy gaps are significant, leading to patient non-compliance with medical instructions, reduced satisfaction, higher readmission rates, and increased burnout and stress among hospital staff. OrtheReality’s VR technology aims to mitigate these issues by helping medical professionals exercise their "empathy muscle."

The app employs VR headsets connected to an audio feed. Users can select a scene from a patient's perspective and view it in 360 degrees, immersing themselves in the patient's experience. This re-creation of audio and visuals virtually places doctors in their patients' shoes, fostering a deeper understanding.

Prof. Eran Weiner, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, sees great potential in this tool, especially for obstetricians and gynecologists. Weiner notes the particular value for medical staff who may not have personally experienced the conditions they treat.

Israel continues to lead in medical innovation, creating tools that enhance the quality of care and patient satisfaction. Stay informed about the latest breakthroughs by subscribing to our newsletter and sharing this article with others.