Rehabilitation Virtual Reality Laboratory

The challenge

Every year, hundreds of individuals in our community must undergo physical or mental rehabilitation as a result of trauma or disease, and sometimes a controlled environment is vital to the healing process because it allows the patient to feel safe while working to regain capacity or mobility. Many of these individuals, including members of the Canadian Forces returning from duty, require the highly specialized treatment provided at The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre.

The solution

In March 2011, a state-of-the-art tool called a virtual reality laboratory was installed at the Rehabilitation Centre. This tool has a moveable patient platform with a wraparound floor-to-ceiling video screen and also includes a computer system that allows therapists to measure and study the patient’s responses to the changing environments. The system further enables a collective approach among rehabilitation experts, orthopedists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, neurologists, mental health professionals and researchers.

How you can help

The Canadian Forces Health Services Group covered the cost of the simulator, and The Ottawa Hospital Foundation is responsible for raising the $500,000 needed to house this new technology. The Foundation is reaching out to the community to raise the remaining $100,000.

You can donate online, download our donation form or call us at 613-761-4295.

To learn more about this groundbreaking technology, contact Beth Monaco, Development Officer, at 613-798-5555, ext. 16090, or bmonaco@toh.on.ca