VA Immersive

Pilot Programs & Collaborations

VA Immersive has revolutionized health care experiences for Veterans, their caregivers, and VA staff. Immersive technology brings the senses of sight, sound, and touch to each patient's health care journey and revolutionizes the way VA clinicians provide care. Through pilot programs and collaborations, VA has leveraged Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to solve complex challenges, seize new opportunities, and move innovation forward for better health care outcomes and a better care experience.

Pilot Program Spotlights

Creative Arts

Creative arts therapies, such as art, dance, drama, music, and writing, offer unique opportunities for the self-expression. By introducing these therapies through virtual reality, VA Immersive is offering personalized opportunities for Veterans' reintegration, adaptation, improved coping, and general wellness.

Firearm Safety Training

Physical Therapy

Community Living Centers

An important patient population in the VA is our patients living in community centers. VA is looking to improve their quality of life by working with whole health team in VISN 4 to help Veterans experience the world outside their worlds using immersive technology, ultimately improving loneliness and boredom.

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Virtual Therapy Shows Real Promise for Managing Phantom Limb Pain

VA Immersive: In the News - U.S. Navy Veteran suffered from phantom limb pain ever since his lower left leg was amputated 16 years ago after a hunting accident. Learn about his experience in VA Immersive's clinical trial of a therapy to alleviate phantom limb pain.

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2022 Shark Tank Winner – The Employee Well-Being Centers & Carts Diffusion Marketplace (va.gov)

Using virtual reality to improve the lives of VHA employees. This program has garnered support through the VHA Innovation Experience Conference's Shark Tank program. The VR program received four bids from "Sharks" at the October 2022 conference.

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Inside the Effort to Expand Virtual Reality Treatments for Mental Health | Science| Smithsonian Magazine

At Western North Carolina VA HCS, VA has completed more than 450 sessions using immersive technology as a distraction tool to help decrease pain, stress, anxiety, boredom, and restless behaviors.

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Amelia

VA Immersive collaborated with Amelia Virtual Care to help Veterans develop skills for treating and coping with PTSD and other trauma-related diagnoses. Through in-vivo exposure or phobia-based virtual environments, Veterans can use these virtual reality headsets in-person with a provider or from the comfort of their home.

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BraveMind

The BraveMind program (along with RealRecovery, SoldierRecovery, and the SoldierSuit) gives Veterans the resources they need to overcome recovery obstacles.

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CleanBox Technology

Clean Box plays a critical role in VA Immersive by providing the health and safety products necessary for businesses to utilize new technologies.

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Healium

An augmented reality application helping Veterans manage anxiety.

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VHA's Creative Arts Therapy Program

Art Therapy is a powerful method of expression. It is one way that many veterans and families are finding that may offer great benefit in dealing with challenges and many times, has the possibility of inspiring joy.

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VHA's Office of Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

VA's top clinical priority is preventing suicide among all Veterans – including those who do not, and may never, seek care within the VA health care system.

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VHA's Office of Pain Management

Pain management is essential to recovery. Read the Six Essentials Elements of Good Pain Care.

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Opioid Safety

VA is committed to finding better ways to manage pain in Veterans while limiting the risks of long-term opioid use.

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