Therapeutic virtual reality, otherwise known as TVR, is being used by Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent, England. The hospital has treated around two hundred patients with TVR since its inception in 2013.
Although research is still needed on the benefits of therapeutic virtual reality for patients, Medway Maritime Hospital has seen significant success with virtual reality in reducing recovery times, pain, and anxiety. For instance, one patient reported the benefits of using TVR during their recovery. Likewise, according to the hospital, virtual reality helps block pain receptors in patients.
Currently, TVR is being offered to patients in day surgery, with procedures such as stent changes particularly benefiting from the therapeutic use of virtual reality. Patients are equipped with a VR and guided through a calming virtual environment, which helps to distract them from the surgery and reduce anxiety.
Evidently, the use of VR in Medway Maritime Hospital is positively impacting those undergoing minor operations, presenting an optimistic view of how VR can be used to treat those undergoing treatment.
Despite the jury still being out on the long-term and short-term benefits of immersive technologies for our health, Medway Maritime Hospital’s use of TVR is just one example of the many use cases starting to emerge in healthcare and the tangible benefits immersive technologies can have.
For more information on the impact of immersive technologies on healthcare, check out one of our latest articles on the topic.
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