Innovative Uses of AR in Healthcare: 11 Experts Share Their Insights

One of the most unique AR use cases we’ve seen is in vocational healthcare education specifically, teaching students how to perform complex lab procedures from scratch.

The IES Leonardo da Vinci, an educational centre in Puertollano, Spain, uses Innovae’s SAAM procedure digitalisation solution with second-year students on the Laboratory Operations intermediate cycle. In their Basic Microbiology and Biochemistry Techniques module, students use Microsoft HoloLens 2 mixed reality glasses to carry out bacterial identification using the API 20E gallery, a precise, multi-step process that has traditionally demanded close instructor supervision.

With SAAM, Innovae’s tool for digitising technical operations, the procedure is fully digitalised and delivered as a mixed reality overlay, so students can visualise each step in context, hands-free, as they work at the bench. Instructors build detailed workflows on the admin panel. Text explanations can include photos, videos, and 3D elements that, thanks to AR, allow multiple content elements to be placed simultaneously within the physical workspace.

The result of using this type of technology is faster and more standardised learning, fewer sequencing errors, greater autonomy for students and, crucially, the kind of procedural confidence that carries over into real clinical and industrial lab environments.

This type of solution is perfect for procedures where hand usage is essential, such as pipetting, dissection, or chemical titration as it allows students to follow visually detailed step-by-step guides while having their hands free to complete the actual procedure.

The Old Way Isn’t Working Anymore

One implementation that we built faced a specific issue: their surgical residents were technically skilled but clinically hesitant. We integrated AR directly into live procedures, overlaying real-time anatomical guidance and contextual prompts into their field of view. Learning moved from post-op debriefs to in-the-moment decision-making, helping build confidence during actual care. It showed how AR, when tailored to a clinical workflow, can meaningfully improve training and outcomes.

The potential extends far beyond the operating room. AR can enable immersive anatomy learning, provide remote specialist guidance in underserved settings, and help patients better understand their conditions visually. While the AR healthcare market is projected to exceed $10 billion by 2028, its real impact will come from customized solutions that align with how clinical teams actually work.

I have witnessed the remarkable use of augmented reality in phlebotomy. An example of this is AccuVein, which projects the location of a patient’s peripheral veins in real time onto the skin using light emissions and mapping technology. As a clinician, I have watched nurses utilize the veins projected by the device when drawing blood from elderly patients with fragile veins. This specific application of augmented reality has the potential to result in the standardization of all types of basic clinical procedures. Since these IV insertions no longer require guesswork, healthcare facilities will be able to eliminate the pain of multiple needle sticks, lower the incidence of infection, and maximize the efficiency of their operations in triaging patients.

I’ve seen early use of AR in foot care education where clinicians overlay pressure points and friction zones onto a patient’s foot in real time, which is far more effective than trying to explain it with words or diagrams. In one workshop tied to Blister Prevention, we trialled a simple version to show where shear forces build inside a shoe, and it changed how quickly people understood why blisters form. What stood out was how fast both clinicians and patients could connect cause and effect. My view is that AR’s real value isn’t novelty, it’s clarity. If people can see the problem where it actually happens, they make better decisions. The opportunity is in practical use, like guiding taping, footwear choices, or pressure offloading at home. Keep it simple, grounded in real scenarios, and focused on helping people act, not just watch.

I saw some amazing examples of augmented reality being used in a pediatric nursing training program. The program utilized augmented reality headsets, which overlaid the anatomy of the internal airway on a mannequin representing a baby. As nurses practiced intubating babies, they were able to see an actual digital cross-section of the throat in real time, showing them where the instruments were going. This presents an enormous opportunity for AR. In pediatric emergencies, there can be no mistakes, and AR gives trainees the ability to see parts of the anatomy that could not be seen using physical mannequins alone, which gives clinicians greater confidence and ultimately results in improved patient care in the ICU.

The most unique application of augmented reality I’ve encountered was during my clinical LPN training, working with a $100,000 Anatomage Table. While often described as a ‘virtual cadaver,’ this is actually a high-performance 3D visualization engine that serves as a bridge between static 2D diagnostics and live clinical reality. What makes this tech so effective is the haptic-style touch interface that allows for non-destructive, ‘layered’ exploration. During my training, I used the table to virtually ‘dissect’ the layers of the abdominal wall and uterus, which proved to be an invaluable baseline of spatial awareness when I later observed a live clinical C-section. Seeing the physical surgery after mastering the 1:1 digital map on the Anatomage allowed me to immediately identify the surgical planes and vascular structures as they were being navigated in real-time.

The potential I see for this goes far beyond the classroom. We are moving toward ‘Digital Twin’ pathology. Imagine a production environment where a patient’s specific MRI/CT data is streamed directly onto an AR overlay during surgery. Instead of looking at a screen across the room, surgeons could have a 1:1 spatial map of the patient’s unique anatomy—essentially ‘seeing through’ tissue before a single incision is made. This level of precision, powered by the same rendering engines found in the Anatomage, will make intraoperative errors a thing of the past.

It’s all about turning the invisible into something clinicians can interact with in real time, especially during patient education. In some settings, AR is used to project a patient’s own imaging—like a CT scan—directly onto their body, aligned to the exact area of concern. A doctor can point to a spot on the patient’s side and show where a tumor sits, how large it is, and what surrounds it, making the conversation far more tangible than looking at a separate screen.

What stands out is how this changes the dynamic between clinician and patient. Instead of explaining anatomy in abstract terms, the discussion happens in a shared visual space where both are looking at the same thing from the same perspective. Patients tend to ask more specific questions because they can see what’s happening, and clinicians can walk through treatment options in a way that feels grounded and immediate.

The result is a more informed and engaged patient experience. People leave with a clearer mental picture of their condition and what comes next, which often leads to better adherence and less uncertainty. It turns what can be an overwhelming conversation into something more collaborative, where understanding builds naturally through what’s right in front of them.

Augmented reality is used successfully in physical therapy and stroke rehabilitation. Clinics now utilize AR interfaces to superimpose digital targets or barriers onto the ground within the therapy room. While practicing walking or reaching, patients interact with these digital objects and receive immediate visual and auditory feedback on how accurately they perform each movement. One possible use of augmented reality within rehab is the gamification of the recovery process. The use of AR can turn monotonous, painful physical therapy exercises into interesting, measurable challenges that greatly increase a patient’s motivation to perform their exercises and continue with their program, resulting in a quicker and more complete recovery of motor function.

As a surgeon heavily involved in Robotic Orthopedic Surgery and teaching minimally-invasive techniques, I utilize high-tech guidance to enhance surgical precision. My background in performing thousands of surgeries across Central Texas has shown me that integrating digital data into the OR is the future of the field.

We use a specific system called Computer Navigation for Shoulder Replacement, which utilizes infrared sensors to create a real-time 3-D map of the joint. This allows for the precise placement of implants by tracking surgical instruments in real-time, effectively acting as a digital guide for every bone cut.

The potential for this technology lies in its ability to significantly improve implant longevity and reduce postoperative complications like dislocation. By combining a surgeon’s experience with the sub-millimeter accuracy of robotic-assisted tools, we can offer patients much more predictable and successful outcomes.

Inpatient pharmacy operations are a great example of how augmented reality applications have been put to use. Pharmacists are using augmented reality (AR) glasses for scanning barcodes, which automatically show an overlay indicating if the medication is appropriate for the patient’s electronic prescription. If not, the AR will provide an alert via a red light on the display. Eliminating human error from a healthcare worker’s practice via technology has the potential to greatly improve daily operations. Hospitals will be able to verify the accuracy of every medication dose prior to sending it to the patient, significantly reducing the chances of an adverse drug event and greatly improving patient safety in all hospital settings.

Patients with severe vision loss and disabilities can benefit greatly from augmented reality (AR) technology as an assistive device. Currently, AR Smart Glasses utilize a camera to capture the surrounding environment, which is converted into a video feed—with image enhancement and high levels of contrast—and displayed on screens in front of an individual’s eyes. This allows the individual to bypass some of the defects in their retina and use AR technology on a daily basis. This represents a new potential use of AR for individuals with macular degeneration, providing a means to enhance their ability to read, recognize people, and navigate independently.