Virtual Reality During Medical Treatments
During treatment, your mind can be somewhere else
At Centro Medico Ippocrate in Parma, patient well-being is an integral part of the care experience. That is why we have introduced REALICA Virtual Reality Care, an innovative virtual reality system that allows patients to undergo outpatient procedures in an immersive, relaxing and engaging environment.
Through a dedicated headset, patients can immerse themselves in virtual landscapes accompanied by soothing sounds and guided breathing exercises while the doctor performs the treatment.
An experience designed to help reduce anxiety, fear and the perception of pain, without the need for additional medication.
What is REALICA and how does it work?
REALICA is a patient-support technology based on so-called digital sedation, a non-pharmacological and non-invasive approach that uses the potential of virtual reality to promote relaxation during medical procedures.
By wearing the headset and headphones, patients are transported into a virtual environment that helps divert their attention away from the treatment and any discomfort they may experience.
The experience can be personalized and does not prevent communication with medical staff: patients can speak with the healthcare team and stop using the headset at any time.
When is virtual reality used at Centro Medico Ippocrate?
REALICA can be used during various outpatient procedures, at the doctor’s discretion, including:
- Phlebological treatments, dedicated to the management of venous diseases.
- HIFU procedures, which use high-intensity focused ultrasound.
- Minor outpatient procedures, during which patients may benefit from a more relaxing experience.
Virtual reality complements the standard pain management techniques provided for each procedure, such as local anesthesia when required, without replacing them.
How does the experience work?
Before treatment
The healthcare staff explains how the device works and helps patients choose the virtual environment that best suits their preferences.
During treatment
Patients wear the headset and headphones and immerse themselves in images, sounds and guided breathing exercises. They can communicate with the medical team at any time and ask to stop the experience whenever they wish.
After treatment
The headset is removed at the end of the procedure. Since virtual reality does not require the administration of additional medication, there is no specific recovery time associated with its use.
The benefits of digital sedation
Using REALICA offers several benefits for patient comfort:
- Greater peace of mind: the immersive environment promotes relaxation and helps patients manage anxiety associated with medical procedures.
- Non-invasive approach: using the device requires no needles, incisions or other invasive procedures.
- No additional medication: the virtual reality experience does not require supplementary pharmacological sedation.
- Personalized experience: patients can choose their preferred virtual environment and stop using the device whenever they wish.
- No additional recovery time: the device does not introduce any recovery period beyond what may already be required by the medical treatment itself.
A more patient-centered care experience
At Centro Medico Ippocrate, we believe that technological innovation should improve not only the effectiveness of treatments but also the way patients experience them.
The introduction of REALICA represents another step towards healthcare that prioritizes comfort, peace of mind and individual needs, particularly for patients who feel anxious or apprehensive about medical procedures.
The suitability of the virtual reality headset is assessed by healthcare professionals. Patients should inform the medical team of any conditions such as epilepsy, severe motion sickness, vertigo, significant visual or hearing impairments, or the use of hearing aids.
Ask about REALICA when booking your appointment
Would you like to know whether you can use virtual reality during your next treatment?
Contact Centro Medico Ippocrate and ask our reception staff for more information.
REALICA® is a trademark of VALIAMO Medical Solutions. Use of the device is subject to medical assessment and does not replace any pain management techniques that may be necessary.
