This isn't science fiction. Virtual Reality (VR) is redefining the patient-provider relationship. Today, this new technology is changing our experience at the dentist, providing pain management for burn victims, helping kids with autism develop social skills, and aiding Soldiers suffering with PTSD. VR innovation is even helping doctors reach the homebound. By 2020, this technology could be as mainstream as the X-Ray in U.S. healthcare.

1. Behavioral Virtual Reality (VR) Tool
• Allows interaction with real-world
scenarios
• Elicits more genuine, valid
responses to stimuli
• Suspends patient disbelief,
allowing for more efficient
diagnosis and earlier intervention
• Fosters a deeper patient
engagement with behavioral
therapy
• Enables more integrated coaching
• Drives the patient to more readily
accept social/behavioral concepts
• Expedites intervention, leading to faster
patient improvement
• Identifies more accurately the triggers
present and the reaction to those
triggers
• Allows the clinician to adjust
personalized scenarios on-the-fly,
escalating and/or deescalating the
experience
• Shows progress over time by recording
scenarios to pinpoint responses and
related biometrics
• Helps the patient learn new skills and
and how to practice them
Patient Benefits Provider Benefits
“What would you do?”
A diagnosis and rehearsal tool for behavioral analysis using a virtual reality headset.
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Anxiety/Panic Disorders
• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Phobias (i.e. Claustrophobia)
Potential Clinical
Applications
Today’s assessment is based
on the patient’s imagination
and the therapist’s clinical
impression.
Tomorrow’s assessment is
based on empirical evidence
and ecological validity.
Tomorrow’s therapy will hinge
on rewinding and reworking
scenarios, and strengthening
and adapting the neural
networks.
“Imagine you are confronted
with…”
Today’s assessment,
diagnosis & coaching model
Tomorrow’s assessment &
diagnosis
Tomorrow’s therapy &
coaching

2. Virtual Reality (VR) Distraction
1. For a procedure or visit, patient
selects a VR Distraction from a
variety of relaxing and engaging
immersive content.
2. Patient selects from a variety of
relaxing and engaging, distracting
immersive content.
3. Patient uses an optional game
controller to complete tasks that
require concentration and
coordination, creating a further
distraction.
4. Content can be specifically tailored
for certain procedures and the
needs of the patient.
5. Pain, discomfort and anxiety are
decreased, reducing the need for
pain medication while improving
patient experience.
• Decreases awareness of pain and
discomfort
• Patient perceives procedures as being
shorter in duration
• Motivates appointment adherence;
patients may even look forward to it!
• Reduces anxiety, improves mindset
and attitude
• Reduces need for pain medication
• Reduces transportation coordination
that’s needed with the use of stronger
anesthesia
• Incorporates educational content,
increasing patients’ health
management knowledge and skills
• Improves outcomes and decreases
costs
• Improves patients’ experiences
• Reduces need for pain medication
• Creates more pleasant patient
experiences and associations with
procedures/clinics
• Prompts fewer appointment
cancellations (patients have something
to look forward to!)
• Differentiates practice in provider
market
• Creates “buzz”
• Enables providers to spend less time
accommodating “difficult” patients
• Generates educational and branding
opportunities
Patient Benefits Provider Benefits
Making difficult procedures more comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable.
• Dental & Orthodontic exams and
procedures
• Ambulatory procedures (stitches,
surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy, etc.)
• Pediatrics (vaccines, shots, blood
draws, etc.)
• Blood/plasma donations
• Any procedure/setting that can cause
anxiety, fear or claustrophobia (dentist,
shots/needles, MRI’s, etc.)
Potential Clinical
Applications