This document discusses how virtual world technology can be used to deliver effective, efficient, and inexpensive health improvement programs. It provides background on employer-sponsored health programs and how they have been shown to reduce costs and improve productivity. Virtual worlds allow for real-time communication and social networking in immersive 3D environments. The company HealthyWorlds is exploring how to use virtual worlds to provide health seminars and self-directed learning modules to engage users. Virtual worlds have potential applications in health education, care delivery, and simulating patient experiences.

1. Using Virtual World Technology to
Deliver Effective, Efficient and
Inexpensive Health Improvement
Programs
Peter Mills. MD
September 17, 2010

2. Aim
• To give you a better understanding of the
relatively new area of virtual worlds and how
they have the potential to augment existing
approached to health promotion.

3. Background – Who Am I?
• UK based physician
• Co-founder of vielife (acquired by
CIGNA 2006)
• Founded HealthyWorlds 2009 to
explore use of virtual worlds in
healthcare

4. Context
• The business case for investing in workplace
or insurer funded health programs is proven.
• However, in today’s economic environment,
the challenge is to maintain momentum and
improve existing health promotion programs
while reducing costs.

5. Employer sponsored Health &
Well-being Programs Work
• Presence of health risk factors predict future healthcare costs.
(Pronk et al. 1999: JAMA)
• Changes in health risk status associated with significant
changes in healthcare costs
(Edington et al. 1997: JOEM)
• Return on Investment from medical costs alone 4.56 to 1
(Ozminkowski et al. 1999: AJHP)
• Fewer absence days in worksite health promotion
participants with ROI 2.3 to 1
(Schultz et al. 2002: JOEM)
• 10% increase in productivity and ROI of 6.2 to 1.
(Mills et al. 2007; AJHP)

6. Employer sponsored Health &
Well-being Programs
Paper On Site Telephone
Online

7. Employer sponsored Health &
Well-being Programs

8. Web 2.0
User generated content, social networking, gaming and
collaboration

9. Virtual Worlds

10. The SIMS – A Virtual World
• PC game virtual world launched 2000
• Limited in what could be done
• Originally no connection with other (single
player game)

11. Second Life – A Virtual World
• 3-dimensional virtual world
• Launched in 2003
• Created by Linden Research Inc (SF
headquartered, venture capital backed)
• 20 million residents (900% growth in last 18
months)
• “In-world” currency: L$
• 18-44 years age range (35% in the 25-34 years
group)
“By 2011 80% of internet users will have a virtual world
avatar” Gartner Research 2008.

12. OpenSIM – A Virtual World
• Open Source 3D virtual world
• Many of the same features as Second Life
• Like many open source projects many
developers working for free with a
community of enthusiasts
• Gaining popularity over last 12 months
“By 2011 80% of internet users will have a virtual world
avatar” Gartner Research 2008.

16. Already an active environment for
learning, selling and entertainment

17. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 1:
Register, Create
Avatar & Download
Software

18. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 2:
Attend “in-world”
seminars & events

19. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 2:
Attend “in-world”
seminars & events

20. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 2:
Attend “in-world”
seminars & events

21. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 3:
Engage in self
directed learning
modules

22. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 3:
Engage in self
directed learning
modules

23. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 4:
Informally meet with
others like you in the
communal areas

24. How ‘HealthyWorlds’ Works
Step 5:
Separate secure
branded areas for
your employees.

25. Key Attributes
• Real time ‘Peer to Peer’ Communication & Social
Networking
• ‘Always On’, no time dependence
• Confidential and secure
• Global access from desk/home/workplace
• Immersive and interactive environments
• Controlled and private ‘Members Only’ community
• Anonymous so well suited to dealing with ‘personal’
issues
• Access to low cost, highly trained practitioners

26. Virtual Worlds
Asynchronous Real time
Paper Email Web Blogs IM/Chat Phone Face-to-face
Virtual World
Isolated Shared
Web Phone Email Blogs IM/Chat Webcast Face-to-face
Virtual World

27. A number of applications of virtual
world technology in health care
CIGNA/vielife Visualization of Health Schizophrenia Experience
Delivery of Nutrition seminars Care provision, UK 2008
Virtual Hospital - Simulated Patients Diabetes Education, Boston
Imperial College: International Virtual
University Medical School
Association of Surgeons, Apr 2008
Sources: Cigna, vielife, Imperial College London, BBC

29. Further Reading
Guardian Newspaper (August 2010)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/a
ug/22/discover-virtual-worlds-revolution
Occupational Health Magazine (February 2010)
http://bit.ly/9wPqE6

30. Thank-you
peter@healthyworlds.com
HealthyWorlds
http://bit.ly/healthyworlds
twitter.com/healthyworlds