IT support is critical for smaller hospital and healthcare providers facing major challenges in delivering care and sourcing necessary equipment. Tom Stafford, chief technology officer for CDW Healthcare and former CIO of Halifax Health, recently hosted a panel discussion detailing what healthcare leaders are doing to prepare for business disruptions as a result of the current health crisis. This discussion featured health system directors, along with practice leads from CDW Healthcare.

Last fall, I was preparing for major abdominal surgery that would keep me in the hospital for a week, with an additional seven weeks of recovery at home. I knew from previous experience that pain management would be a challenge, and I knew through my work at CDW that there’s growing interest in using virtual reality (VR) to help patients manage their pain.

I decided to serve as a guinea pig, bringing an Oculus Go headset with me to the hospital to see whether it would actually help with my recovery. Here’s what I learned:

Patients are more involved with their healthcare than ever before. There are many factors behind this increased involvement, including the increasing use of mobile and telehealth tools as well as other healthcare communication technologies. By improving collaboration among patients, providers and clinicians, these solutions improve patient engagement and outcomes, all while streamlining care.