Werribee Mercy’s younger patients with anxiety surrounding needles or other medical procedures have received a new way to manage fear and pain.
The Rotary Club of Werribee recently donated the funds for the purchase of a new virtual reality device called the Smileyscope.
Werribee Mercy Hospital paediatrics ward nurse unit manager Simone Danaher said the benefits of the device include reduced patient distress and anxiety, reduced need for unnecessary restraint or sedation and improved patient experience.
“The benefits are a reduced clinical injury to the clinician or parent, and an improvement in clinical workflow by reducing the time it takes to do a procedure,” she said.
“The Smileyscope can be set up to meet the patients’ age the type of procedure and what their interests might be.”
The technology has allowed young patients to be transported into a new world, including underwater and beach environments, to either distract them from the pain or anxiety or reframe the pain they are experiencing, such as playing an animation of fish nibbling at their arm before their injection.
Ms Danaher said patients who have used the new technology seem to enter a relaxed state.
“This is a normal response due to the benefits of distraction, which seems to take the patient into another world,” she said.
“The Werribee Mercy Hospital paediatric ward would like to thank the Rotary Club of Werribee for their incredible work and generous donation, which ultimately benefits young patients and their families.”
Rotary Club of Werribee president Ian Hovey said the club was happy to support the purchase of the device and see Werribee Mercy Hospital patient Chevelle Cooke, 10, try out the new device.
“This is the first Smileyscope device in the western suburbs,” he said.
Details: www.smileyscope.com.au
