Immerse Yourself in the future of VA Healthcare

SSgt Matt Rowley — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:31:04 -0400

Leading the way of the future, Dr. Anne Lord Bailey, Caitlin Rawlins, and Evan Davis have set out on the mission to define a new reality in health care through virtual and augmented reality solutions that enable a paradigm shift in care delivery and experience, reinforcing why Veterans and staff choose VA.

After Honorably Discharging from the Marines in 2016, Evan Davis made a career change that would forever shape the way that Veterans receive care. His desire was to help the Veteran community through the use of Recreational Therapy. As he traveled the world, he developed skills and knowledge of grants and opportunities for Veterans to receive care that was out of their reach.

When COVID hit in 2019, Evan had to figure out how he could still do his job from inside his home. With a background in gaming and a job at the VA, he started to explore virtual reality (VR) and its potential for impact on Veterans. Working with Veterans one-on-one, he was able to see the positive impact that immersive technology was having on Veterans after just a short 10-minute session.

One of the most impactful moments with a Veteran took place during a Recreational Therapy session with a patient who was not receptive to treatment. Deciding to use VR, Evan started an experience that put the patient into a Blue Angel jet. Nearly five minutes into the session the patient was still very tense and did not seem to be responding to the treatment that was being offered. Fearing the treatment was not receptive, Evan began walking the patient through verbal prompts that were met with a thumbs up as a form of understanding. As the session ended, the patient removed his headset and there were tears streaming down his face. Although there was not a lot of physical confirmation during the session, it became clear that he was certainly engaging with the therapy that was being offered. Before Evan could ask, the words “You brought me closer to my father,” came from the patient’s mouth and then explained that his father was a Navy pilot. Evan had no idea that his father was a Navy pilot prior to this moment. Evan stated, “This ability for him to really have a new perspective and look positively at his care obviously changed my life as well. I realized then that this has a much bigger impact than just the therapeutic session.”

Over the last four years, use of immersive technology has grown expansively in VA. Immersive technology includes both augmented reality and virtual reality, also collectively known as extended reality (XR). Today, VA is defining a new reality in Veteran health care by leading the nation in clinical implementation of immersive technology. VA has deployed over 1,200 VR headsets across more than 160 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

Currently, VA is leveraging immersive technology to offer a non-pharmaceutical approach to help Veterans address the day-to-day challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, acute and chronic pain, and more. By engaging the senses of sight, sound, and touch, immersive technology brings a new level of engagement to each Veteran’s health care experience through sessions that last anywhere from ten to thirty minutes.

Additionally, immersive technology increases health care access by offering Veterans opportunities to receive care at medical care facilities and from the comfort of their home. Rawlins added, “Building on the concept of personalized care, access to more virtual reality devices, even outside of VA facilities, could expand the reach of VA healthcare and our clinicians while providing an engaging and safe tool to improve care and further empower Veterans to participate in their care.”

Driving towards the future with ambitious goals, the VA Immersive team is working hard to put more heads in headsets, encouraging and empowering frontline staff to lead. Dr. Bailey stated, “One of the great things about this kind of amazing growth is that it has been driven by frontline staff and clinicians with Veterans at the center. It's been very much from the ground up and is part of a thriving culture of innovation that VA and VA Immersive will continue to support.” To learn more about immersive technology in VA, reach out to [login to see] or check out https://rly.pt/VAimmersive

VA Immersive | Defining a New Reality in Health Care

Response by Ryan Callahan made Apr 24 at 2023 11:32 AM

Ryan Callahan — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:32:09 -0400

Thanks SSgt Matt Rowley! VA continues to lead the way in innovation. From the worlds first cardiac pacemaker, to the first successful liver transplant and electronic health record system. Awesome to see the VA using innovation to address the PTS needs of our community.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 24 at 2023 12:56 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:56:39 -0400

Thank you brother SSgt Matt Rowley for the great article.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Apr 24 at 2023 9:28 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:28:48 -0400

Excellent post SSgt Matt Rowley

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Apr 25 at 2023 2:47 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:47:04 -0400

Good afternoon SSgt Matt Rowley. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this.

Response by SPC Karen Turk made Apr 27 at 2023 8:33 AM

SPC Karen Turk — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:33:32 -0400

Does it only work on VA headsets or is it a muliplatform that includes Meta Quest 2?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2023 10:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2023 22:47:25 -0400

thanks for the info.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 7 at 2023 7:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 07 May 2023 19:01:56 -0400

Irony is I have helped numerous veterans with PTSD heal 160 degrees. A few of them are posters here on RP. I often accomplish this with one email. I view making the mind healthier and more rational as the Center of Gravity to healing. Then there will be hope. Aint that a novel idea? However, the VA has no desire to listen to what I do. It's a shame because we can heal many more veterans. I don't understand the disconnect. I will continue to look for veterans who need help. I am starting to think the VA and the psychologists are looking at job security.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made May 8 at 2023 3:34 AM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Mon, 08 May 2023 03:34:49 -0400

Being A Vet, I Must Say, The VA Always Has Good Plans, But Needs Better Staff To Carry Them Out.
If The VA Has Ratings For Their Various Health Care Systems, Is There Any Way I Can Find Out What Ours Is Here In Las Vegas?..
I Ask Because; Seriously, On 1 Occasions I Came Close To Death, Due To My Primary's Failure To Listen To My Statements, And Refusal To Request A Complete Physical Exam; Because "I Can't Find Anything Wrong With You"
I Had ER Surgery & Spent Nearly A Month In The Hospital.Followed By Months Of Rehab.
The Other Issue Was Due To Misdiagnoses And Therefore, Entirely WRONG Medications Causing Mental Illness To The Point Of Regular Trips To The ER, Hospitalization & Serious Thoughts Of Suicide.. YEARS Go By And One Doctor FINALLY Listed To What I Had To Say.....:
Solution?~~~ Stop Taking The WRONG Medications .....Ya THINK?