AppliedVR expands its VA contract, enabling veterans access to RelieVRx, an FDA-cleared VR therapy for chronic low back pain. The eight-week, self-guided program utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy in immersive VR sessions. This collaboration with VA Immersive showcases AppliedVR’s dedication to pioneering healthcare innovation, aiming to set national standards for VR therapeutics in the VA system. Additionally, AppliedVR’s alignment with AI in healthcare foresees personalized VR therapies, revolutionizing patient care.
The Veterans Health Administration broadens its partnership with AppliedVR, a California-based VR therapeutic company. This extension aims to provide veterans with enhanced access to RelieVRx, an FDA-approved virtual reality program targeting chronic low back pain. Through VA Immersive, this collaboration strives to integrate innovative technologies into healthcare, fostering exploration and adoption of VR-based therapies for wounded warriors within the VA system.
Through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning, also recognized as VA Immersive, AppliedVR has secured an extended contract. This initiative seeks to provide veterans with access to advanced VR-based therapies designed to address chronic low back pain. AppliedVR’s RelieVRx, previously known as EaseVRx, received FDA De Novo clearance in 2021, a crucial milestone permitting its use for treating chronic low back pain.
RelieVRx offers an eight-week self-guided program that patients can undertake in the comfort of their homes. The program employs virtual reality sessions incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to manage and alleviate pain. These sessions feature various content such as breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, relaxation responses, and executive function training, aiming to provide comprehensive support for individuals dealing with chronic low back pain.
Matthew Stoudt, the co-founder and CEO of AppliedVR, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “VA Immersive has been a trailblazer that is consistently at the forefront of health care innovation, actively fostering exploration and integration of cutting-edge technologies to enhance health care delivery and services.”
He added, “VA Immersive’s mission to set national standards for leveraging VR will accelerate the adoption of immersive therapeutics across VA, enabling our wounded warriors to receive next-generation treatments like RelieVRx.”
This expanded contract represents a continuation of AppliedVR’s partnership with the VHA Innovation Ecosystem, a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The collaboration initially aimed to explore the potential use cases of VR programs within the VA system. Furthermore, AppliedVR successfully positioned its RelieVRx system under a distinct Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II code, specially created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for reimbursement purposes.
Recently, the company highlighted the anticipated impact of AI on healthcare and its vision for utilizing this technology within the realm of VR. Matthew Stoudt shared insights about the evolving role of AI in healthcare, stating, “We are entering the Cambrian explosion of AI in healthcare. Using algorithms to better respond to individual patients and personalize care will be a new frontier for AI, and in VR, there are opportunities to deliver AI-driven one-to-one and group therapy sessions as well as precision VR therapy based on each person’s biofeedback data.”
Stoudt expressed excitement about the potential of AI to revolutionize healthcare by enhancing personalized care and enabling tailored VR therapy sessions based on individual biofeedback information. This outlook signifies AppliedVR’s commitment to leveraging advancements in technology to further enhance the efficacy and accessibility of VR-based therapies for individuals dealing with chronic pain, particularly veterans within the VA healthcare system.
AppliedVR’s expanded VA contract signifies a milestone in advancing veterans’ healthcare. RelieVRx’s FDA clearance and integration into VA Immersive set a precedent for immersive therapeutics in the VA system. This partnership demonstrates AppliedVR’s commitment to pioneering cutting-edge healthcare solutions. The alignment with AI in healthcare forecasts personalized VR therapies, promising tailored treatments, and improved patient outcomes. This evolution represents AppliedVR’s dedication to leveraging technology for the betterment of healthcare, particularly for veterans dealing with chronic pain.
