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Welcome to VA Immersive

Defining a new reality in health care delivery and experience through immersive technology.

VA Employee  helping another individual with immersive technology headset

About VA Immersive

VA Immersive is transforming care by bringing immersive technology, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) -- collectively known as Extended Reality (XR) -- to Veterans and VA staff. We help design, develop, and deploy immersive tech for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, physical therapy, recreation therapy, PTSD, and much more. VA Immersive shares resources, lessons learned, successes, and failures across VA. We have engaged VA facilities, frontline staff, and administrators across the country in conversations and efforts related to bringing immersive technologies to VA.

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Mission

Our mission is to define a new reality in health care through immersive technology like virtual and augmented reality, reinforcing why Veterans and staff choose VA.

Focus

This year, our community is aligned with VHA Priorities and focused on using immersive technology and tools for clinical use (e.g., behavioral health, pain management, physical rehabilitation) and employee engagement and education.

Growth

Our community has grown over 30% in the past year and expanded to more than 145 facilities; we aim to reach all interested VA healthcare systems in the next two years. 

Where We Are

VA Immersive innovations are currently being adopted at VA healthcare facilities across the country. Use the map to explore these locations or browse individual innovations.

 

 

Featured by VA Immersive

  • Two Veterans wearing virtual reality headset.

    Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Management

    Created by Loannis A. Lougaris Veterans' Administration Medical Center (Reno, NV)

    This program utilizes a VR head mounted display and healthcare-specific software to address pain and anxiety management through positive distraction. 

    View Innovation

  • VA Employee helps patient with virtual reality headset

    REAL System, y-Series

    Created byVHA Extended Reality (XR) Network

     REAL System, y-Series activities support full body rehabilitation with a focus on strengthening, range of motion, and postural control for use with all rehab patients.

    View Innovation

  • VA Immersive logo image

    Extended Reality (XR) 101 Training

    Virtual (VA Access)

    Webinar for VA healthcare teams to study all of these topics in a structured, standardized manner and better support the care needs of their patients when integrating immersive technology and to ensure all are receiving proper guidance how to do so safely.

    View Event

     

  • Early Scaling of Immersive Technology Within the Veterans Health Administration

    Published in NEJM Catalyst on March 30, 2024

    Read Publication

  • Virtual reality hand therapy: A new tool for nonopioid analgesia for acute procedural pain, hand rehabilitation, and VR embodiment therapy for phantom limb pain

    Published in Journal of Hand Therapy on May 30, 2020

    Read Publication

  • Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety at a Veterans Affairs Health Care Facility

    Published in Frontiers in Virtual Reality in 2021

    Read Publication


"Immersive technology is not how we will change VA care delivery and experience in the future; it is how we are transforming health care today."

-Anne Lord Bailey, PharmD, BCPS

"As soon as you get a patient in a headset, you see first-hand how immersive technology is transforming Veteran lives."

-Caitlin Rawlins, MSN, RN, CHFM