St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital First Children’s Hospital in Southeast to Use Virtual Reality Visualization Platform

TAMPA, Fla. (June 10, 2019) – St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa is the first children’s hospital in Florida and the only pediatric facility in the Southeast to use the evolutionary Surgical Theater Precision Virtual Reality™ technology in its pediatric neuro and cardiac surgery programs. Using F-16 flight simulator technology, the program fuses and enhances CT and MRI images to create a 360-degree virtual model of a patient’s own anatomy.

“The immersive technology provides our pediatric heart and brain surgeons with a never-before view of the anatomy and pathology of their patients’ complex conditions,” said Sarah Naumowich, president of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “With this cutting-edge digital tool, our surgeons have an unprecedented way to plan and strategize the best route for surgery.”

With virtual reality headsets, surgeons are able to guide a patient through a 360-degree model of their heart or brain to illustrate the condition, treatment options and potential risks in greater detail than ever before.

“Being able to see what the doctor sees provides our patients and their families with a better understanding of the diagnosis, which helps alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that comes with preparing for brain or heart surgery,” adds Naumowich.

For more information about the Surgical Theater Precision Virtual Reality™ technology at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, visit: StJoesKidsVR.org.

Media Contact: Amy Gall
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