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Best VR Platforms for Medical Practice: 2025
- Novobeing Team
- Oct 15
- 9 min read
Virtual reality (VR) is transforming healthcare in 2025, offering solutions for medical training, therapy, and patient care. Key areas include mental health treatments for anxiety and PTSD, rehabilitation programs to aid recovery, and surgical training for risk-free practice. Four standout platforms are leading the charge:
Novobeing: Focuses on stress, anxiety, and pain management with a simple, user-friendly design requiring no training.
SimX: Offers the largest library of medical simulations, enabling realistic team-based training for complex scenarios like trauma and pediatric care.
Oxford Medical Simulation: Combines VR with cognitive behavioral therapy for mental health care, extending treatment to home settings.
XRHealth: Brings VR therapy for chronic pain, anxiety, and cognitive impairments directly to patients' homes, integrated with healthcare systems.
Each platform addresses different needs, from patient therapy to professional training, delivering cost savings and accessibility improvements. Below is a quick comparison of their features:
Quick Comparison
When choosing a platform, consider your specific clinical goals, budget, and patient or staff needs.
Oxford Medical Simulation Demo from IMSH 2025 Exhibit Hall by HealthySimulation.com
1. Novobeing
Novobeing is a virtual reality (VR) platform created to help reduce stress, anxiety, and pain through clinically tested methods. Founded by Sid Desai and Nik Vassev, the platform is designed to be straightforward and easy to use, requiring no special training. This simplicity ensures that users can focus on its therapeutic benefits without unnecessary hurdles.
Clinical Applications
Novobeing offers immersive VR experiences that actively engage patients during treatment. By creating calming and interactive environments, the platform helps individuals manage emotional challenges, particularly during recovery or stressful medical procedures. This hands-on approach enhances the overall treatment process.
Integration with Healthcare
One of Novobeing's strengths is its seamless integration into healthcare settings. It doesn’t require complex training or significant changes to existing workflows, making it accessible for healthcare providers and patients alike. Its intuitive design ensures that people of all ages and abilities can easily benefit from its therapeutic features, aligning well with the fast-paced demands of modern healthcare.
Evidence-Based Outcomes
What sets Novobeing apart is its foundation in clinical validation. The platform’s evidence-backed design highlights its effectiveness in improving patient care and aiding recovery. By combining cutting-edge VR technology with proven therapeutic methods, it offers a reliable tool for healthcare professionals aiming to enhance patient outcomes.
2. SimX
SimX is reshaping medical education with its extensive library of simulated patient encounters - the largest in the world. Trusted by healthcare professionals in over 30 countries and utilized by 10 of the top 15 U.S. hospitals, SimX has firmly established itself as a leader in medical simulation technology.
Clinical Applications
SimX stands out for its ability to create highly realistic clinical scenarios, equipping healthcare professionals to handle complex and challenging situations. One notable achievement is its application in pediatric cardiac critical care, marking the first use of virtual reality (VR) in this specialized field. This success highlights the platform's capability to address even the most demanding areas of medicine.
The platform's patented multiplayer technology enables multiple learners to collaborate in the same virtual environment, fostering teamwork and leadership development. Dr. Gregory Yurasek from Children's National Hospital emphasizes the collaborative benefits:
"Its virtual reality is also excellent for team dynamics. Someone has to step up as the leader and they can see the other avatars in the room, but they can also hear their actual voices."
SimX has also proven effective in trauma training, serving as a valuable supplement to Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) programs. For example, at Womack Army Medical Center, trainees use SimX to practice life-saving procedures in a controlled environment before encountering real-life emergencies. This preparation builds confidence and enhances their readiness to handle critical situations.
Integration with Healthcare
SimX integrates smoothly into existing healthcare education programs, supporting interprofessional education (IPE) to mimic the collaborative nature of modern healthcare. By focusing on teamwork and communication, the platform helps learners develop skills that are essential in real-world medical settings.
Educational institutions have embraced SimX as a way to enhance traditional learning methods. For instance, Mashpee Middle-High School has reported that students find the immersive, hands-on experiences more engaging than standard classroom lessons, leading to improved outcomes.
Sarah Darrell from Ivy Tech Community College shared her perspective on the platform’s impact:
"Students have been so much more successful and really given us fantastic feedback and they want to keep seeing SimX come along."
These collaborative and interactive features are paving the way for more effective training programs and better-prepared healthcare professionals.
Evidence-Based Outcomes
SimX has demonstrated quantifiable improvements in medical education. Research shows that VR simulation education takes 22% less time and costs 40% less than traditional high-fidelity simulation methods, making it a practical and efficient option.
Performance data supports these findings. In studies involving prelicensure nursing students, those trained using immersive VR achieved higher total performance scores compared to those trained in hospital-based settings. Additionally, immersive VR training leads to greater student satisfaction and boosts self-confidence compared to screen-based virtual simulations.
Dr. Heiddy DiGregorio from the University of Delaware highlights the platform's impact on critical thinking:
"At University of Delaware, using SimX has really helped us with critical thinking and clinical decision making with our students."
Cost-Effectiveness
SimX offers long-term financial benefits by reducing the need for costly physical simulation equipment. Its virtual environment allows learners to practice repeatedly without incurring additional material costs, making it an economical choice for nursing programs and medical institutions.
In June 2025, the platform expanded its offerings with new scenarios, such as "Rapid Sequence Intubation" and "Management of Complications During Laparoscopic Surgery." These updates enhance the platform's value without significantly increasing costs, offering even more opportunities for medical training.
3. Oxford Medical Simulation
Oxford Medical Simulation, a spin-out from Oxford University created by OxfordVR, offers immersive virtual reality (VR) treatments that combine cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, and medication. By 2025, this platform aims to bring advanced mental health care directly into patients' homes.
Clinical Applications
The platform provides a multi-faceted treatment experience by blending various therapeutic techniques. This setup allows clinical teams to deliver effective mental health care remotely, extending their reach beyond traditional settings. Whether used at home or in clinics, this approach offers flexibility while maintaining high standards of care.
Integration with Healthcare
Oxford Medical Simulation is designed to fit within existing healthcare systems effortlessly. Its home-based treatment model ensures that patients receive consistent care outside of clinical environments. This initiative enables healthcare providers to deliver validated therapies without requiring patients to visit physical locations.
Evidence-Based Outcomes
Built on research from Oxford University and supported by clinically validated VR technology, this platform merges established therapeutic practices with immersive experiences. The result is a comprehensive, research-backed solution for delivering mental health care.
4. XRHealth
XRHealth is a telehealth platform that brings virtual reality (VR) therapy sessions right into patients' homes, making treatment more accessible beyond traditional clinical settings. It focuses on managing chronic pain, anxiety, attention deficits, and cognitive impairments.
Clinical Applications
The platform uses VR to create immersive therapy experiences. For example, it employs distraction techniques to help with pain management, mindfulness exercises to ease anxiety, and cognitive rehabilitation programs tailored for stroke survivors or individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries. Additionally, XRHealth offers exposure therapy modules, which allow patients to practice coping strategies in controlled virtual environments. For those with attention difficulties, gamified exercises help improve focus and concentration.
Integration with Healthcare
XRHealth seamlessly fits into existing healthcare systems. Physicians can prescribe its VR therapy programs as part of a broader treatment plan, combining traditional care with innovative technology. The platform integrates with electronic health records (EHRs), enabling doctors to track therapy progress and patient outcomes. This real-time monitoring helps healthcare providers adjust treatments as needed, ensuring patients stay engaged and benefit from their therapy sessions.
Evidence-Based Outcomes
Clinical studies highlight the effectiveness of XRHealth's VR therapies. For instance, its pain management protocols have been linked to noticeable reductions in patient-reported pain levels. Similarly, cognitive rehabilitation programs have shown encouraging results in improving memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. These findings indicate that VR therapy can complement traditional treatments, enhancing overall patient care.
Cost-Effectiveness
By offering therapy at home, XRHealth minimizes the need for frequent in-person visits and reduces reliance on expensive healthcare facilities. Its subscription-based pricing model makes VR therapy more accessible, and as insurance providers increasingly acknowledge the benefits of VR interventions, coverage is expanding. This progress is particularly important for patients who face financial or geographic challenges in accessing care.
Platform Comparison: Strengths and Weaknesses
Examining the strengths and challenges of each platform helps make better decisions based on clinical requirements, budget constraints, and the needs of specific patient groups. Each platform brings its own benefits and faces unique limitations.
Additional Considerations
Accessibility is a key factor when choosing a platform. For example, Novobeing’s controller-free design is particularly beneficial for elderly patients or individuals with limited mobility - groups often excluded by traditional VR systems. Its clinically validated experiences are geared toward emotional healing, setting it apart from platforms like SimX and Oxford Medical Simulation, which focus more on training and simulations but offer less publicly available validation.
Technical requirements and support also vary. Some platforms may demand significant hardware investments or additional training, which could complicate implementation. For instance, while XRHealth emphasizes clinical applications, its cost and technical specifics are unclear, making it harder to evaluate its feasibility.
Cost is another critical factor. Subscription-based pricing models and hardware requirements can impact initial and ongoing expenses. Novobeing, for example, has limited pricing transparency, which may require further inquiry before committing. Platforms that integrate seamlessly with electronic health records (EHRs) can also reduce setup challenges and improve operational efficiency.
Ultimately, selecting the right platform means balancing clinical workflows, patient needs, and budget considerations. Each solution has its place, but understanding these nuances ensures a better fit for your practice.
Conclusion
By 2025, VR technology is transforming healthcare with tailored solutions that address various needs. A standout example is Novobeing, an intuitive, evidence-backed platform designed to help reduce stress, anxiety, and pain. Its user-friendly design requires no prior training and is accessible to people of all ages and abilities, making it especially useful in patient care and therapeutic settings.
Different VR platforms cater to distinct purposes - some excel in simulation and training, while others focus on therapeutic care. When evaluating a platform, prioritize clinical validation for patient-facing applications and ensure training systems provide robust, well-rounded curricula. Features like accessibility options and smooth integration with existing electronic health records can also simplify implementation and improve efficiency.
Budget planning should go beyond the upfront costs. Factor in ongoing expenses like subscriptions, hardware, and staff training. Opting for user-friendly platforms can help minimize operational complexities and reduce long-term overhead.
Ultimately, the best VR platform depends on your unique needs - whether for therapeutic care, staff training, or rehabilitation. To make the right choice, request detailed pricing information and conduct pilot programs to see how well a platform aligns with your workflows. Matching the platform’s capabilities to your clinical goals ensures a smoother and more effective VR integration.
FAQs
How can Novobeing’s VR platform be seamlessly implemented in healthcare settings without requiring extra staff training?
Novobeing’s VR platform stands out with its straightforward interface, allowing healthcare professionals to use it seamlessly without requiring lengthy training sessions. The design prioritizes ease of use, enabling staff to incorporate the platform into their daily routines with minimal effort.
To make the transition even smoother, Novobeing offers a variety of helpful resources, including detailed tutorials, on-demand guides, and responsive customer support. These tools ensure that healthcare teams can get up and running quickly, keeping disruptions to a minimum while improving the quality of patient care.
How does Novobeing help reduce stress, anxiety, and pain in patients?
Novobeing is crafted to enhance patient well-being through immersive virtual reality experiences. Research highlights that VR platforms like Novobeing can help shift attention away from discomfort, encourage relaxation, and provide soothing environments that ease stress and anxiety.
By offering thoughtfully designed simulations and interactive activities, Novobeing tackles both physical and emotional hurdles. This makes it a valuable tool for pain relief, mental health support, and rehabilitation. Its approach, rooted in research, gives healthcare providers the confidence to include it in their treatment plans.
What should healthcare providers look for when choosing a VR platform for therapeutic use?
When choosing a VR platform for therapeutic use, healthcare providers should prioritize aspects like practical functionality, relevance to clinical needs, and the potential impact on patients. The platform should deliver realistic and immersive simulations, specifically designed for areas such as mental health, rehabilitation, or surgical training, ensuring it meets the demands of the medical field.
It's also important to consider features like AI-powered tools that can adapt therapies in real-time, aligning with the specific goals of your practice. Look for a platform with an intuitive interface, dependable customer support, and a track record of improving patient outcomes effectively. These factors can make a significant difference in the success of VR-based therapy.
