Project Details
About the Project
Many patients who visit Dr. Paul Winston and the physiatry team have already spent a lot of time in hospital. Chronic disabilities, repeat procedures, and painful interventions can be a heavy emotional load for patients to bear, especially when making their way through the halls of Victoria General Hospital for their appointment in the Restorative Health Department. But thanks to Facility Engagement funding from the South Island MSA, the care team has successfully rolled out a new and innovative tool.
Inspired by work in France, Dr. Winston and his team have introduced the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets to reduce both anxiety and pain for patients receiving treatment in the clinic. In the past, tools such as music (audio distraction) or needle cards (visual tool to obscure the injection site) have served as anxiety and pain relief techniques. The new VR headset creates an immersive and combined audio and visual experience, providing comprehensive distraction for patients who chose to use it. This tool works especially well for patients who don’t like being in the procedure room for their intervention – they are instead whisked (virtually) away to the beach, mountains, or underwater.
Thanks to the FE funding, the care team came together to navigate the integration of VR technology into the clinical setting, develop protocols for use, work with patients to evaluate the trial, and become well-versed in using the novel tool. The team could imagine this technology working well for procedures across the hospital environment that aren’t too invasive but that trigger significant anxiety in patients. They may even launch a research project to investigate the efficacy of their new tool.
In the meantime, the Restorative Heath team has found VR to be a helpful intervention for patients who request it and are appreciative to have another invaluable tool in their comfort toolkit. Many thanks to Drs. Paul Winston, Andrew Round, Stephanie Muise, and Michael Peters, as well as co-op student Sammy Herzog for their dedication and innovation!