groundbreaking studies to increase the therapeutic advantages of applied behaviour analysis and autism treatments
Through ground-breaking new virtual reality additive design experiments, Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, the biggest autism therapy healthcare provider in the country, is furthering research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Clinical pilots from Hopebridge will integrate VR into ABA therapy programmes at a number of facilities around the US.
Akiva, an immersive virtual reality learning environment that mixes gaming and artificial intelligence to create a predictable learning ecosystem that helps kids with special needs develop their sensory, cognitive, perceptual, and fine motor abilities, will be used by Hopebridge’s trial programmes. Hopebridge’s use of Akiva via Oculus Quest VR headsets will enable doctors to track and document the cumulative advantages of VR combined with applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy to speed up the pace of behaviour skill learning in autistic children.
Dr. Adam Hahs, Chief Science Officer at Hopebridge, is in charge of the investigation. He said that virtual reality has the potential to significantly enrich and elevate the way the organisation provides patient care. He stated that the company’s collaboration with Akiva highlights its dedication to pushing new technology and growing the sector of digital therapeutics. Hahs said that doctors are given the authority to use specialised equipment, facilities, and research methods to speed up crucial patient development interventions.
The reach of VR was not in doubt, but with the recent introduction of a billing code for services giving families this possibility, it is about to be realised. Families will have access to the most effective ABA treatment available in the healthcare industry thanks to payor recognition of VR.
Using Akiva software to gather data and monitor patient outcomes, the clinical pilots with Akiva will concentrate on researching an in-center VR rehabilitation programme. Real-time clinical outcome data tracking will be offered through the cloud-based software, which will include creation and articulation of speech, social abilities, response latency, proprioceptive and vestibular awareness, eye tracking with a shared focus, and object, number, and letter identification.
The execution and delivery of phase two, which entails a large-scale, randomised controlled trial (RCT) to be launched throughout the whole Hopebridge footprint in 2023, will be informed by data monitoring for phase one pilots.
In order to support initiatives for improving clinical outcomes and a growing value-based care model, the organisation announced in March the creation of a new clinical division with executive appointments. Dr. Hahs was chosen to serve as the organization’s Chief Science Officer, and he is responsible for leading the multi-state group toward improved clinical outcomes, value-based healthcare, research initiatives, and clinical advancement.
In addition, Dr. Hahs oversees Hopebridge’s involvement in the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) and oversees special opportunities for clinicians to continue their education, such as PEAK training. The Hopebridge Fellowship Program, one of the biggest clinical supervision programmes in the field, and the establishment of major internal and external research projects in the behavioural health field were both greatly aided by Hahs.
