The VA Immersive Experience: Defining a new reality for Veteran health care

VA Immersive is defining a new reality in health care, transforming care delivery and experience, and reinforcing why Veterans and staff choose VA.

In this second “New Horizons in Health: Bringing Veteran Health Care Into the Future” podcast episode, Veterans who have experienced and benefited from the technology, like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), join Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, to describe in detail how it works and the impact on their health and well-being.

An audio-only version of this podcast can be found on transistor.

VA has deployed more than 2,200 virtual reality headsets across more than 154 VA medical centers and 18 additional sites of care in all 50 states, Guam, American Samoa and Puerto Rico, and it plays a leading role in this field, engaging with industry, academia and other government agencies to co-develop content and engineer devices that are beneficial for our Veterans.

Army Veteran Paula Edwards struggles with the exhaustion, insomnia and sleep apnea but failed to find relief from traditional sleep treatments. After her immersive experience, she said, “Well, let me tell you… this is a miracle.”

Navy Veteran Dean Peterson, who has been using immersive technology as a form of mirror therapy for phantom limb pain, added, “I noticed about two weeks into my four-week trial that it was easier to go to sleep at night. […] The technology is simple… It was an easy way to fool my brain. It was fun looking at a real left foot—that was the most exciting thing.”

Marine Veteran Evan Davis, a recreation therapist and VA Immersive project manager, explains, “It’s really amazing that VA is doing this and that we are a leader in this technology as well.” You’ll hear him describe the powerful potential of immersive technology and how it helps the Veterans he serves.

Vast array of immersive technology clinical uses

VA has vast array of immersive technology clinical uses, including suicide prevention, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, stress reduction, acute and chronic pain, social isolation, physical rehabilitation, substance abuse and more.    

The VA Immersive team, including Evan Davis, Caitlin Rawlins and Dr. Anne Lord Bailey, is bringing immersive technology to as many medical centers as possible.

Bailey explains, “We’re not replacing therapy. We’re just helping fill some of those gaps and meet needs that otherwise aren’t being met. We want to focus on increasing access to the technology, both in the medical centers and in the patient homes. We want to know how it works and why it works, and then be sure VA is making that readily available to the broader community. I see VA’s role as an incredible opportunity but also a responsibility.”

We hope you enjoy and learn from this episode of New Horizons in Health: Bringing Veteran Health Care Into the Future. Interested in learning more about VA Immersive? Click here to visit the website or send an email message.