Swim with dolphins, relax on a snow-white palm beach or admire The Night Watch in the Rijksmuseum. With virtual reality glasses, young patients of the Noordwest Hospital (NWZ) in Alkmaar can escape to another reality. The hospital has now received two VR glasses. “Children experience less pain,” says anesthesiologist Ronald Bijkerk.
The use of Virtual Reality is becoming increasingly popular in healthcare. The NWZ in Alkmaar is by no means the first hospital where the glasses are used. Thanks to the glasses, the patient is immersed in a virtual world with 3D images and sounds. “For example, you can choose to look around among the elephants or to play a game,” says Bijkerk.
And that is a godsend for children who need surgery. Out research According to the Erasmus Medical Center, it appears that 70 percent of the children are anxious before the procedure and that also has a negative effect after the operation.
“Many children already receive an IV before the operation, so they have to be pricked. That is often very exciting,” says anesthesiologist Bijkerk. “When they put on the glasses, they are in a different world for a while and they experience the injection as much less painful.”
Fear
The glasses can also be put on in the recovery room after the operation. “The parents are there then, so that already saves a lot of fear and unrest, but it gives the children just a little extra distraction. And the great thing is that brothers or sisters can watch on the screen.”
The glasses are not exactly cheap and are sponsored by the Lions Club Alkmaar. The money was raised during the light evening in the canals of Alkmaar. “We are very happy that we were able to buy two pairs of glasses with all the software packages. We hope that many patients will use them and benefit from them.”
Curious how the VR glasses work in the hospital? Watch the video below: