EAMC Pediatric Unit First in Alabama, Georgia to Offer Virtual Reality Therapy using KindVR Headset

OPELIKA, Ala.­­—For patients on the pediatric unit at East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), it’s literally all fun and games when using the unit’s KindVR headset for therapy.

Being in the hospital can be stressful for young children, and often the therapeutic and recreational activities available for them are limited to the four walls of their room. But now, EAMC is the first hospital in Alabama or Georgia to offer pediatric patients a way to experience KindVR’s virtual reality headset as a form of stress and pain relief.

“Using the KindVR headset provides our pediatric patients a fun and exciting escape from the stress they may be encountering,” said Madison Ard, EAMC’s child life specialist. “We are always looking to improve our patient experience and technologies like this are certainly a way to do that.”

When using the headset, patients can enjoy fun games with cheerful music such as “Aqua,” in which they explore the ocean and spot colorful sea creatures, or “Animal Valley,” where they help give water to safari animals like giraffes and elephants while enjoying soothing music. The pediatric unit’s child life specialists have guided time sheets detailing what happens in each game, allowing them to discuss the game with the patient as it happens.

Not only does the headset provide entertainment for the patients, but each game is designed with a certain clinical purpose in mind.

For example, some of the games keep patients looking up when a procedure requires them to, while others keep patients in an upright position. The headset also has meditation modes to distract pediatric patients from painful needle sticks and pokes. Children nervous about an MRI can also use the headset for a simulated practice MRI that guides them through each step in a soothing voice.

Along with the 360-degree view that the headset provides, patients also hear audio and use a remote to play the games, something that helps with motor skills. The headset has also been used for patients in the Emergency Department.

Funding for the headset was provided through a grant from Child's Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and teens in children’s hospitals around the world. 

Ard stated that since patients began using the headset in September 2023, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve gotten tremendous feedback from our patients and their families,” Ard said. “It has been both interesting and exciting to hear from some of our patients that their overall pain level has decreased after using the KindVR headset.”

To protect patient privacy, the headset does not require a Wi-Fi connection and requires no access to patient data for use. Patients receive a kit with disposable face pads, and alcohol lens wipes to use on the headset. After each use, the headset is cleaned and prepped for the next patient by EAH staff. 

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About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinic and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital, while EAMC-Lanier provides inpatient services as well as a nursing home, an acute rehab unit and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,500 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.