VR Feasibility Study / Patient Care Integration

As part of the Springbok Cares initiative, the VR Feasibility Study and Patient Care Integration project was a pioneering effort to bring immersive technologies into the healthcare setting. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Southern California’s Norris Cancer Center at Keck Medical Hospital, the study sought to establish the viability, safety, and effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) for immune-compromised cancer patients.

This initiative had multiple objectives, beginning with the creation of sanitation protocols and standards for the use of VR hardware in hospital environments. With patient health and safety as the top priority, we developed guidelines to ensure equipment could be safely implemented in a setting with heightened sensitivity to infection risks.

The study also worked with patient services to establish bedside service programs, enabling in-room VR experiences for cancer patients. To support these efforts, we curated and secured licensing agreements for compatible content libraries, providing a wide range of immersive experiences tailored to the unique needs and preferences of patients.

A dedicated team of staff was hired and trained in patient-focused etiquette and bedside protocols, ensuring the seamless integration of VR into both inpatient and outpatient care. The program served patients across diverse demographics, from young adults to geriatric individuals undergoing treatment.

The results of the study were transformative, setting a new hospital-wide standard for the use of immersive technologies at the facility. This project not only demonstrated the therapeutic potential of VR but also established a blueprint for how immersive technologies can enhance patient care, offering moments of comfort, distraction, and engagement during challenging treatments.