The biggest barrier to adopting a new technology in healthcare is rarely the technology itself. It is time. Already-overloaded teams do not adopt tools that add friction, however good they are. So integrating virtual reality for clinical use successfully is, above all, an exercise in fitting the workflow.
Start by finding the right moments
Virtual reality for clinical use does not create a new block in the schedule: it fits into moments that already exist and that today are "dead time" or difficult time:
- The wait before a procedure, loaded with anxiety.
- The short procedure itself, where distraction helps.
- Moments of discomfort or agitation during the stay.
Identifying these moments in the patient journey is the first step. The tool enters where there is already a need, not where space has to be invented.
Keep it simple for whoever operates it
If using the system requires a dedicated technician, adoption dies. The goal is for any team member, nurses, assistants, therapists, to be able to start a session with minimal training.
Rule of thumb: if you need a manual to start a session, the tool is too complex for the floor.
Short sessions, fitted to reality
Long interventions compete with everything else and lose. Short sessions, adjusted to the patient and the moment, fit in without disrupting the routine. The best design adapts to the existing flow, instead of demanding that the flow adapt to it.
Predictable hygiene and logistics
To be used between patients, the equipment needs a simple, clear cleaning routine and predictable logistics: where it lives, who charges it, how it is prepared. Without this, even a good tool ends up forgotten in a cupboard.
Important note: virtual reality for clinical use is a complementary approach, integrated into the care plan and used under the supervision of healthcare professionals. Its adoption should respect each institution's clinical and infection-control protocols.
The role of RVer
RVer is a virtual reality system designed for healthcare environments and registered as a Class I Medical Device (base product) in EUDAMED and with INFARMED (Portugal), bearing the CE mark under MDR 2017/745. It is built with adoption in mind: simple for teams to operate, comfortable for the patient, and with no collection of patient clinical data.
The right technology in healthcare is not the most sophisticated: it is the one the team can actually use every day.
The question that follows the workflow is who runs it: who can run a session.
To test the workflow before adopting it, see how to run a pilot.
Frequently asked questions
Who operates virtual reality for clinical use in a team?
A specialised technician is not required. With minimal training, any team member, nurses, assistants, or therapists, can start and accompany a session. The system should be simple enough for that.
How long does a typical session take?
Sessions are typically short, adjusted to the context and the patient. Rather than long interventions, they fit into moments that already exist in the patient journey, such as a wait or a short procedure.
Does it take a lot of training to get started?
No. A tool designed for clinical settings should require only brief, practical training. If the learning curve is too demanding, adoption fails: so simplicity is a requirement, not an extra.