VRHealth and Oculus Form Partnership to Integrate Virtual Reality (VR) into Healthcare

Oculus and VRHealth have recently formed a partnership to better integrate virtual reality (VR) into healthcare applications. Future plans for the duo include integrating VR into pain relief for cancer patients and women during labor, suppression of anxiety in relation to surgeries, and other scenarios. With the assistance of VRHealth’s systems, Oculus plans to make such functions available in both their Oculus Rift, and their newer Oculus Go. This announcement was made yesterday in San Jose, California at the Oculus Connect event.

The pain management platforms Oculus and VRHealth plan to release is designed for patients to use with Oculus Go. The main tactic is distraction from the pain, as well as use of visuals to skew the user’s pain perception. Each plan offers the user a Go headset as well as a tablet that can be used to gather data. All tools needed for data analysis and treatment improvement are included with the system as well. Specifically designed to target patients undergoing chemotherapy and women giving birth, this pain distraction via VR is similar to that used in treatment of severe burn patients.

Oculus is also working to integrate new technologies into a wellness-based app for the Oculus Go, using brain health exercises and meditation. This app can be used in the comfort of one’s home, giving them a well-crafted, interactive experience that guides them to a life of better overall health. Users are able to compare results with their peers, creating a social community aspect of the technology.

VRHealth already has their medical applications approved by the FDA and with this partnership with one of the leading VR companies on the market, they are likely to continue integrating useful VR into healthcare. The company focuses mainly on collection and analysis of patient data via artificial intelligence, helping physicians give their patients specialized care.

“Virtual reality has the power to ease the pain of chemotherapy treatment, create a seamless environment for physical therapy exercises, and train children with ADHD to focus their attention,” said VRHealth CEO Eran Orr. “It used to be that when people thought of virtual reality entertainment and games were the first application that came to mind, but we see that applying the effects of VR to the healthcare industry has the potential to improve many lives and aid doctors in providing personalized and comfortable experiences for their patients.”

This new partnership coincides with the present trend of VR integration into healthcare. With the technology being used on patients for pain relief, PTSD, phobias, and even eating disorders, VR it establishing itself to be an evidence-supported means of patient care.

Oculus and VRHealth are bringing Rift and Go to hosptials – https://t.co/lJLDRb6cJ6 pic.twitter.com/YiebRwXIZO

— Upload (@UploadVR) September 26, 2018

Sources: TechTheLead, UploadVR, MobiHealthNews