VA expands virtual reality for Veteran rehabilitation

VA’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL) has established a three-year collaboration with Penumbra to test, co-develop and scale additional virtual reality (VR) solutions. These solutions will ultimately increase Veteran access to rehabilitation care in Community Based Outpatient Clinics and at home.

The REAL System y-Series

Through the collaboration, VA will develop therapy software and programs that address critical Veteran needs, particularly within rehabilitation. The virtual reality platform will be the REAL System y-Series, which includes tablet, head-mounted display, sensors, operating software and a library of clinically based activities to deliver care.

“Our goal is to produce thoughtfully designed, developed and implemented solutions based on a deep understanding of Veterans’ health care needs,” said OHIL Immersive Technology Lead Dr. Anne Lord Bailey. “We believe immersive technology is defining a new reality in Veteran health care, and we’re excited to see how this expansion in rehabilitation care furthers that vision.”

Virtual reality in Veteran rehabilitation

The VR solutions will largely be used for Veteran orthopedics, neurorehabilitation, chronic condition management and chronic pain management. This VR collaboration will be available at six VA sites—Richmond, Asheville, Los Angeles, Des Moines, Orlando and Eastern Colorado.

“The technology is visionary,” said Physical Therapy Executive Mark Havran. “We foresee this will allow an extension of our clinics and education tools beyond brick and mortar. The patient, the caregiver and the interdisciplinary team will be able to improve access, functional outcomes, and [there will be] less downstream costs while having a mix of services available.”

Through the collaboration, VHA OHIL will further adopt and adapt new technologies for remote therapeutic rehabilitation, remote therapeutic monitoring and remote patient management. By incorporating virtual reality into health care, VA is enabling greater Veteran access to care. This solution supports asynchronous patient-provider interactions and greater remote patient monitoring.

VA Immersive

The VA Immersive program aims to define a new reality in health care through virtual and augmented reality solutions that enable a shift in how Veterans experience and receive care, reinforcing why Veterans and staff choose VA.

Today, the program is leading the nation in clinical implementation of immersive technology with more than 1,200 virtual reality headsets across more than 160 VA medical centers and clinics in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

“VA Immersive: Defining a New Reality” is a regular series from VA’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning, focusing on how VA Immersive is defining a new reality in health care through virtual and augmented reality.