Virtual reality at Pensacola hospital eases young patients’ minds
By Alexa Daly - WKRG News
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — For some kids, hospital beds and medical procedures have become their reality.
“The children’s hospital can be a very scary unfamiliar place for kids, and so one of the things we do in coordination with Child Life is try and make it a easier place to receive care,” Dr. Jason Foland, President of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital said.
At the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart they’re doing just that thanks to a virtual reality headset, KindVR.
The headset helps provide an escape during what’s typically a high-stress situation.
Taking patients underwater to swim with dolphins, on a safari, or even through meditation while undergoing things like MRIs and port accesses for oncology patients.
“The reaction has been ‘can I do another one.’ The kids get so excited and they’re like ‘wait I want to try this one or I want to try this one,'” Undrea Coppin, certified Child Life specialist at the hospital, said. “It’s really fun to see them literally turning their head all around when they’re just in a stretcher in a pre-op room.”
The system is changing the game for patients, families and staff.
“They put it on and then there’s a complete relaxation of that body, and the minute that your child becomes calm and relaxed, then you as a parent become calm and relaxed. And it changes the atmosphere in that room,” Amanda Soldani, certified Child Life specialist at the hospital, said. […]