A Phoenix-area hospital, Banner Health University, is launching a pilot program for using virtual reality in the delivery room. They hope to decrease pain and potentially the need for narcotic medication, all through a virtual journey to a scenic, relaxing environment. Women may get to wear the headsets in the last minutes prior to childbirth. They demonstrated one of their setups in a recent interview, using a Samsung Gear VR headset with headphones, complete with a relaxing virtual environments to enjoy: beaches and ambient landscapes. Its very similar to the approach companies like AppliedVR have taken for pain relief with visceral pain. As pain is modulated by attention, so the theory is that transporting the patient to a virtual, engaging environment may help relieve acute pain. This isnt the first time Banner Health University has been in the media for using virtual reality. Earlier this summer, the institutions Rehabilitation department was featured for its use of non-immersive virtual reality for helping those with traumatic brain injuries.

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