Boston-based XRHealth will be providing virtual reality (VR) telehealth services to the Sheba Medical Center in Israel to help the hospital treat incoming coronavirus-exposed patients quarantined at the hospital and, eventually, to monitor them after they return home.
XRHealth will be providing VR headsets that are set up with the company's specialized extended reality technology and data analysis. These headsets will also include apps that will allow patients to take virtual tours of numerous geographical destinations.
"The ability to strap on a headset, lay back, relax and virtually visit any location they want will help patients to remain connected with the world and cope with feelings of isolation while being quarantined," said Eran Orr, CEO of XRHealth. "Our VR treatment platform also has programs that assist in working though stress and anxiety, which obviously are also prominent concerns for those being treated for coronavirus."
The Sheba Medical Center has embraced telemedicine in the past to treat patients remotely. Late last year, Sheba announced a partnership with XRHealth to establish the first fully VR-based hospital, utilizing XRHealth's technology throughout each department.
In this particular case, Sheba will be using telemedicine as the primary means of interacting and treating the patients on site. Those who have had exposure with the COVID-19 virus will be grouped in a special quarantined area on campus. Utilizing multiple technologies, including the VR headsets, Sheba staff will be able to continuously monitor those quarantined while having very limited physical interaction.
"We are excited to have multiple telemedicine technologies already on board to protect our staff and we welcome the addition of VR telehealth services as a treatment tool for patients," said Dr. Galia Barkai, head of telemedicine at Sheba. "The ability to stay in touch with the outside world will certainly help the mental state of those quarantined for extended periods."
XRHealth recently became the first company to set up virtual reality telehealth clinics in the United States. Certified VR telehealth clinicians are providing care in 10 states with additional states coming on board in the coming months. XRHealth utilizes virtual reality to rehabilitate patients via an immersive and engaging experience in the comfort of their own home. XRHealth combines therapeutic software with VR technology that can treat a variety of health conditions. VR therapy transports patients to an environment where they can view and experience treatment as a fun activity, increasing patient participation in prescribed therapeutic treatments.
XRHealth services for Coronavirus patients in isolation will be available for all hospitals and clinics in the United States on March 15.
For more information, visit https://www.xr.health.
If you're new here, check out The Lay of the Land to see all that we have to offer at VRNation.tv.
