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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has implemented the use of Smileyscope, a state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) therapeutics to soothe children during needle procedures in the hospital’s Emergency Department.
The hospital at 3100 SW 62nd Ave. is among the first children’s hospitals in the nation and the first in South Florida to offer this child-friendly, immersive technology, according to Nicklaus Children’s.
“Needle procedures can be very stressful for children of all ages,” said Dr. David Seo, the senior vice president and chief information and digital officer for Nicklaus Children’s Health System. “The Smileyscope virtual reality tool supports our emergency department clinicians in providing the artful distraction that is so beneficial to children during such procedures. Families can request VR support to reduce their child’s discomfort and anxiety.”
Smileyscope VR is the first regulatory body approved VR product for medical use and is clinically proven to reduce patient pain, anxiety and the need for restraints. The device is utilized by clinicians across a range of medical procedures such as vaccines, bloodwork, wound dressings, aesthetic inductions, nitrous oxide and plaster cast applications/removals.
One of the most requested VR experiences sought by children is the underwater adventure, which features waves washing over the injection site and a fish nibbling on the child’s arm during the injection, according to Nicklaus. Clinical trials have shown this VR program can safely and effectively reduce pediatric needle pain by up to 60% and anxiety by 40%, allowing for a more comfortable and positive patient experience.
Giovanna Pedemonte of Miami recently brought her 7-year-old, Silas, to the emergency department at Nicklaus Children’s with a high fever and an infection in his finger.
“Silas typically gets anxious whenever he enters a clinical setting and asks whether he will be getting a shot or undergoing any pain,” said Ms. Pedemonte. “I was impressed to learn that Nicklaus Children’s offered the Smileyscope technology to distract him. He didn’t seem to notice the draining of the wound on his finger. He likes video games, and he enjoyed the technology so much that we will request Smileyscope whenever he visits the hospital.”