Our Blog | IKONA Health

Using Virtual Reality To Support Mental Health, Wellness and Resilience

Meet Jose

Jose is a forty-three year old military veteran who has had ongoing issues with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, social isolation, and addiction since leaving the service nearly two years ago. He struggles with anxiety in social settings, and sometimes finds it difficult to leave the house. He currently sees a therapist once a week. He likes his therapist, and always feels much better following a therapy session, but he frequently struggles between sessions. He wishes there was a way to find additional relief when he feels the need and without having to leave his home— a program that would allow him to reduce his anxiety and relieve his stress would be ideal. He has tried audio tapes and meditation on his own but neither has proven to be very engaging and he still struggles to remain focused.

 

Much like the practice of health care, communication is both an art and science. For many patients, the best care experiences (and results) stem from a provider’s understanding of the role and importance of communication.

Twenty-five percent of Americans are predicted to be 65 or older by 2030 (U.S. Census) and this demographic will outnumber those 18 and younger by 2035. Physical, emotional and cognitive changes associated with normal aging place an enormous emotional and financial burden on the senior, their family and the healthcare system. Studies show that as many as 13% of home care recipients experience an adverse event, may of which are preventable.

The goal of all hospital administrators and medical personnel is to effectively treat every patient’s medical condition. Ensuring that healthcare providers are highly trained in all aspects of a medical procedure will surely increase patient satisfaction, but this is only half of the equation. The other half centers around the patient’s understanding of and familiarization with the upcoming medical procedures.