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.
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
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Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Management
Created by L
This program utilizes a VR head mounted display and healthcare-specific software to address pain and anxiety management through positive distraction.
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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.
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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.
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Early Scaling of Immersive Technology Within the Veterans Health Administration
Published in NEJM Catalyst
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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
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Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety at a Veterans Affairs Health Care Facility
Published in Frontiers in Virtual Reality in 2021
"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