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UNMC uses cutting-edge hologram technology to connect about 150 health care providers across Nebraska

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 19:06 GMT by KETV Omaha
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UNMC’s Hologram Innovation: Bridging the Gap Between Health‑Care Providers Across Nebraska

When a patient in a small Nebraska town needs a specialist’s opinion, the wait can be days, if not weeks. Rural clinics often have to ship patients to distant hospitals, incurring travel costs, time away from work, and the emotional toll of separation. To address these challenges, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) has taken a bold step into the future of medicine: a holographic communication platform that lets doctors “meet” in three‑dimensional space, regardless of their physical location.

The story behind the technology is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. UNMC’s engineering faculty, clinical researchers, and an industry partner—Microsoft—joined forces to build a system that overlays 3‑D patient imaging onto a shared digital canvas. The result is a live, interactive hologram that can be viewed on a large screen or with a Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset. The system streams real‑time data from the cloud, enabling multiple providers to see, annotate, and discuss patient scans as if they were all in the same room.

How the Hologram Works

The core of the platform is a set of 3‑D reconstructions generated from standard imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound. These scans are processed by UNMC’s imaging software, then transmitted over a secure Azure cloud connection to the receiving site. The hologram is projected onto a screen or headset, and the patient’s anatomy can be rotated, zoomed, and dissected layer by layer. Doctors can draw arrows, highlight areas of concern, and even place virtual “tissue” overlays to illustrate surgical approaches.

Because the system is built on the same infrastructure that powers Microsoft’s HoloLens, it inherits a robust set of security features—encryption, role‑based access control, and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This ensures that sensitive patient data remains protected while still being accessible to the right clinicians at the right time.

A Real‑World Demonstration

In the article published on KETV, UNMC showcased the hologram in action during a complex spinal surgery case. A patient in Grand Island with a severe lumbar fracture required a specialized fusion procedure. The local surgeon, Dr. Maria Lopez, consulted with a spine specialist at UNMC’s flagship hospital in Omaha. Using the hologram, Dr. Lopez was able to “step into” the patient’s spine on the screen and review the fracture from every angle. The UNMC specialist guided her through a minimally invasive approach, pointing out critical structures and advising on screw placement.

The collaboration didn’t stop at the operating room. The same hologram platform was later used for a follow‑up visit with a patient who had just been discharged. A remote family medicine doctor from a clinic in O'Neill accessed the hologram from his own office, reviewed the surgical outcomes, and provided a tailored rehab plan for the patient—all without the patient needing to travel to Omaha.

The technology also proved valuable during a pandemic‑related staff shortage. When a surge of COVID‑19 patients forced the Omaha ICU to operate at maximum capacity, the UNMC team deployed holographic consults to a network of rural hospitals. By sharing 3‑D scans of lung tissue and ventilator settings in real time, ICU specialists could assist frontline staff on the ground, speeding up decision‑making and improving patient outcomes.

Why It Matters

The hologram platform addresses three major pain points in modern health‑care delivery:

1. Geographic Disparities
   Rural communities often lack access to specialty care. By eliminating the need for patient travel, the hologram can reduce both the cost and the time burden on patients and their families.

2. Time‑Critical Decision‑Making
   In emergencies, minutes can make the difference between life and death. A real‑time hologram lets specialists advise surgeons or emergency physicians without delay.

3. Collaborative Training
   Beyond patient care, the platform offers an immersive learning tool for residents and medical students. They can observe live surgeries from a 3‑D perspective, ask questions, and even practice procedures in a virtual environment.

The Road Ahead

UNMC’s next steps involve scaling the platform across its entire health‑system. The university plans to integrate the hologram with its electronic health record (EHR) system, allowing for seamless data flow. They are also exploring partnerships with other state‑wide hospitals to create a network of holographic “tele‑clinics” that can serve the entire Omaha area and beyond.

In a statement, UNMC’s Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Anil Patel, said, “We’re excited to bring this technology to the bedside. The hologram is not just a cool gadget—it’s a practical tool that will change how we collaborate, educate, and ultimately care for patients.”

Additional Resources

For readers interested in the technical underpinnings of the system, UNMC’s press release (linked in the KETV article) provides a deeper dive into the software architecture. The release also includes a video interview with the lead engineer, Dr. Emily Chen, who explains how the team overcame challenges such as latency and data size.

The KETV piece references Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 product page, offering insights into the headset’s capabilities—hand tracking, eye tracking, and a 30‑degree field of view that makes the holograms feel “real.” For those curious about the potential applications of holographic technology in health‑care, a recent white paper from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is cited. It outlines how immersive 3‑D visualization can improve diagnostic accuracy and surgical outcomes.

Bottom Line

UNMC’s hologram technology is more than a technological curiosity—it represents a meaningful step toward equitable, efficient, and collaborative health care. By turning 3‑D imaging into an interactive conversation, UNMC is ensuring that expertise isn’t limited by distance, time, or geography. As the platform expands, it could become a cornerstone of tele‑health infrastructure nationwide, proving that sometimes the best way to connect people is to make them feel as if they’re in the same room—no matter where they actually are.