Virtual reality: These 7 companies want to bring it to healthcare

two people using virtual reality goggle sitting down

[Image from Guido van Nispen on Flickr, per Creative Commons 2.0 license]

Virtual reality is no longer just for pilots to simulate flying – or for more realistic gaming experiences. Virtual reality is helping to shape the healthcare industry by offering immersive programs to help train surgeons and students for a variety of surgical procedures.

Surgeons can train for different procedures, and clinicians are also using virtual reality as an alternative to drug therapies. VR can even treat certain phobias. By offering virtual reality programs on existing virtual reality systems, such as Oculus Rift, surgical training and treatments are becoming more accessible.

Here are 7 virtual reality companies that are innovating healthcare.