Google Glass moves into the operating room

According to a recent article in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, Google Glass could change the way surgeons provide care in the operating room. This comes after some members of the American College of Surgeons were selected to be among the first to test out the device.

Google Glass: The next frontier?

The article painted a picture of a surgeon using the device to record video during an operation to send out to a colleague for a second opinion. Or, Glass could allow the surgeon to view magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images without stepping away from the operating table. In the future, the device could also allow surgeons to:

• Make a patient safety checklist

• Transmit surgical video in real time

• Provide point-of-view teaching or training opportunities

• Provide patient information during surgery

While the device is still in the early stages of implementation within the medical community, the first Google Glass-assisted operation was performed last year by Rafael Grossmann, MD, FACS, during a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. However, there are still concerns about Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance and security concerns that need to be addressed before the device becomes an operating room regular.

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