Features Editor
I had a lot of fun trying VR headsets at various conferences. Admittedly, they make me “geek out” a little every time I wear one, simply because it’s such a unique experience. VR is a nerd’s dream, and packaging the goggles with video games is a no brainer. I can speak from experience in saying that it’s a totally new way to play games, which is something a lot of people enjoy doing. But, VR isn’t limited to gaming.
Over the last couple of years I’ve tried various non-game-related demos, ranging from an ER simulation to a surgical application designed as an educational tool for aspiring physicians. These types of software gave me some idea of how VR could be applied to healthcare, but I never actually envisioned it occurring. I figured virtual reality was one of those things people would talk about at HIMSS, but we’d never actually see it being used in real-world healthcare.
I was wrong.
In talking with providers and vendors, I discovered VR in healthcare was already a reality, and the adoption of the tech is only growing.
In this issue of HMT, we have an exclusive story about OnePatient in Chicago – a non-profit that has success in using VR as a means to treat a myriad of mental health issues, ranging from severe depression to traumatic brain injuries. Other physicians are leveraging VR to treat chronic pain, seeing a measurable difference in patient-reported pain scores. For more, I invite you to read the full feature.
I hope that our cover story will open your mind to seeing virtual reality as more than just a thrilling new way to shoot aliens and explore haunted mansions (not that there’s anything wrong with either). While I think the technology brings with it a “mindlessness” stigma that video games (still!) have some trouble shaking, virtual reality is more than just a sleek peripheral – it’s a smart technology that invites a variety of uses. For healthcare, VR could change treatments and the patient experience dramatically, and there’s nothing wrong with everyone from millennials to curmudgeons being a little bit excited about the implications.
Granted, as with any new technology, this trend may be short-lived. However, it’s also possible the inventive people who occupy the healthcare IT space (and beyond) will continue to innovate, improve, and leverage VR in ways we never dreamed of. We could be witnessing something revolutionary – and if not, at least good people are using the tech to promote better health and wellness. Even if someday virtual reality goggles are looked at as a novelty, that still counts for something.
Thank you for reading HMT. As always, I welcome your questions, comments, and feedback at [email protected]
