{"id":8244,"date":"2024-05-21T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8244"},"modified":"2024-05-21T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T14:30:00","slug":"exploring-vrs-potential-to-revolutionize-occupational-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8244","title":{"rendered":"Exploring VR\u2019s potential to revolutionize occupational therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-05-21T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

At G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA<\/a> in Jackson, Miss., new technology is profoundly impacting Veterans\u2019 health care. Virtual reality (VR) is at the forefront of this revolution and it\u2019s used to diminish pain and anxiety, and enhance rehabilitation in ways traditional methods have not.<\/p>\n

Sierra Barnes, occupational therapy student, embarked on a significant project to develop and implement a VR protocol tailored for the acute care setting in occupational therapy (OT). During her presentation, Barnes showcased the transformative impact VR technology is having on patient care.<\/p>\n

Under the mentorship of Kendrick Bankhead, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Capstone mentor and the clinical education coordinator, she explained how VR is instrumental in improving patient experiences by alleviating pain, anxiety and insomnia during hospital stays. With Bankhead\u2019s guidance, Barnes successfully crafted a protocol that is based on solid evidence and also practical and efficient for the acute OT staff to adopt.<\/p>\n

Veterans undergo thorough screening<\/h2>\n

VR therapy is administered with care. Veterans interested in the therapy must undergo a thorough screening that evaluates their medical history and current health status. Exclusion criteria rule out candidates with conditions such as active psychosis, legal blindness, a recent history of seizures, active dizziness or nausea, or head, neck or facial injuries that would interfere with the use of VR headset<\/p>\n

Once cleared, Veterans undergo a meticulous process where their vital signs are monitored before, during and after the VR sessions. These sessions might include virtual tours, outdoor retreats or guided relaxation exercises. Each session is conducted with the utmost care to ensure comfort and safety, and there are signs placed outside the treatment rooms to prevent interruptions.<\/p>\n

Pictured above, Kendrick Bankhead, occupational therapist, and Sierra Barnes, OT student, test new virtual reality headsets.<\/p>\n

Veterans report significant benefits<\/h2>\n

Many Veterans have shown improved vital signs post-VR treatment and reported significant benefits from their sessions in reducing their symptoms. Those who exhibited substantial benefits from VR usage were recommended for follow-up care with the outpatient OT clinic at the medical center.<\/p>\n

Implementing VR in such a high-stakes environment faces challenges. High patient turnover, the physical layout of the hospital and the acuity of patients\u2019 conditions can complicate the delivery of VR therapy. Nonetheless, many Veterans have reported significant improvements in their symptoms post-therapy, affirming the efficacy of the technology.<\/p>\n

Barnes and Bankhead\u2019s commitment to this innovative approach led them to apply for the VISN 16 Innovation Grant. They provided evidence-based literature, an action plan and a spending plan to support the funding of their project. They aim to expand the program with additional VR headsets and one Clean Box<\/a> to continue benefiting Veterans. Approval of this grant is pending, but the potential for broader application remains high.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0The Occupational Therapy Department did not conduct any\u00a0clinical research regarding virtual reality with Veterans.\u00a0All\u00a0VR\u00a0devices were used with Veterans during routine acute occupational therapy sessions\u00a0for VR protocol development only.\u00a0VA\u00a0OT staff and the Department of Veterans Affairs do not endorse or market any specific VR vendors, products or devices.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New technology is affecting Veterans\u2019 ability to diminish pain and anxiety and enhance occupational rehab.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"\nExploring VR\u2019s potential to revolutionize occupational therapy - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New technology is affecting Veterans\u2019 ability to diminish pain and anxiety and enhance occupational rehab.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8244\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Exploring VR\u2019s potential to revolutionize occupational therapy - 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