Can Virtual Reality Help Pain Or Depression? Some Hospitals Experiment With New Tech
As hardware prices drop, some doctors are trying out the new technology as a treatment option for a variety of conditions. In other health IT news, IBM bets big on health care. And more seniors are using mobile devices for virtual visits with their doctor.
Bloomberg:
Hospitals Try Giving Patients A Dose Of VR
It’s still a new and experimental approach, but proponents of virtual reality say that it can be an effective treatment for everything from intense pain to Alzheimer’s disease to arachnophobia to depression. And as Facebook Inc., Sony Corp., HTC Corp. and others race to build a dominant VR set, the price of hardware has fallen, making the equipment a more affordable option for hospitals looking for alternatives for pain relief. The idea is that the worst pain can be alleviated by manipulating the way the human mind works: the more you focus on pain, the worse it feels. (King and Chen, 8/29)
The Boston Globe:
With Cambridge-Based Watson Health, IBM Bets Big On Health Care
But IBM’s shift from computer hardware to software and services has taken the New York company deep into the world of doctors, hospitals, and drug companies. ... IBM is making a big bet on health care, and it’s doing it here in the technology and life sciences hub of Massachusetts. Since IBM Watson Health was launched in 2015, the company has made four acquisitions worth about $4 billion and forged numerous partnerships with major hospitals, drug makers, and other companies. (McCluskey, 8/30)
CNN Money:
Seniors Swap Hospital Visits For IPads
The Mercy Virtual Care Program is cutting health care costs by getting hundreds of senior citizens to use iPads as an alternative to doctors' visits. (Hodge, Sevilla and Kress, 8/29)
