Harvard MedTech

IAIABC: Please provide a description of your organization. 

Dr. Gerry Stanley, SVP and Chief Medical Officer: Harvard MedTech currently has 40 employees, has been in business for four years and is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV. Vx® Therapy is currently offered through Workers’ Compensation as well as the Veterans Administration.

Harvard MedTech strives to make the world a better place by reducing human suffering. We help patients overcome the effects of trauma, both physical and emotional, by promoting holistic and organic healing in lieu of, or in conjunction with, surgery and prescription medications. 

IAIABC: How does your organization serve the workers’ compensation industry?

GS: Harvard MedTech is at the forefront of transforming the workers' compensation industry by addressing the challenges faced by injured workers, employers, carriers, and TPAs in dealing with trauma. We have developed Vx® Therapy, a non-pharmacologic program anchored in Behavioral Science and delivered through an immersive in-home Virtual Reality (VR) device. 

Recognizing and addressing the mental health and trauma-related aspects of an injured worker’s recovery is vital to patient outcomes while mitigating unnecessary cost from duration of claim as well as excessive conservative treatments, procedures, and/or medications. Implementing proactive strategies to identify and support injured workers dealing with conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disorders, and other symptoms of trauma is crucial to our workers’ compensation industry.

Vx Therapy offers numerous benefits to injured workers, including a reduction in pain, anxiety, depression levels, and return to work or to the patient’s new normal (homeostasis). Through personalized behavioral coaching sessions by our master’s level behavioral health specialists, patients can decrease their reliance on medication while improving their daily living activities, social engagement, and readiness for successful reintegration back to work. Recognizing and addressing the mental health and trauma-related aspects in our industry is vital and our responsibility as stewards of providing injured workers safe and effective medical care.

IAIABC: What do you see as some of the major challenges the industry is facing, and how can we as a community address them?

GS: Healthcare costs continue to rise and access to timely quality care are just a couple of key challenges in our industry. We also struggle with velocity of adoption of new treatments and therapeutic modalities. Our industry speaks of innovation but continues to be reliant on the same principles and practices that have been in place within claim medical management for decades. 
To address these challenges, there is a requirement for all of us to foster collaboration, share knowledge, embrace, and advocate for change through innovation. Open dialogue among industry professionals, policymakers, employers, and workers' advocates is fundamental to ensuring we are meeting our obligations to ensuring each injured worker is provided access to quality care and maintenance of their dignity. By working together, we can drive innovation, develop best practices, and advocate for policy reforms that enhance the efficiency, fairness, and virtue of the workers' compensation industry.

IAIABC: Are there any projects/programs/initiatives going on at your organization that you are particularly excited or enthusiastic about?

GS: Absolutely! We are thrilled about an ongoing project that holds tremendous promise and aligns with our commitment to making a positive impact on individuals' lives. We have recently initiated a program with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support veterans in their journey towards recovery from various challenges, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disorders, and other symptoms of trauma.

The parallels between the workers' compensation (WC) and VA communities have become apparent. Both groups often encounter individuals who have experienced trauma and are grappling with physical and emotional hardships that are not diagnosed at the onset.

Our enthusiasm stems from the opportunity to play a part in improving the lives of those who served our great country. By helping veterans and workers alike overcome the challenges they face, we strive to enhance their quality of life, promote well-being, and facilitate a successful return to their daily activities, whether that involves rejoining the workforce or engaging in fulfilling personal endeavors.

The collaboration with the VA reinforces our commitment to fostering a compassionate and inclusive community that prioritizes the well-being of those we serve. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead as we work together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans and individuals recovering from workplace injuries within the workers' compensation community.

Our passion for this endeavor drives us to explore new avenues for healing, to innovate, and to continue building bridges between various communities to create a brighter and more resilient future for all.

IAIABC: Why is your organization a member of the IAIABC? What would you tell others about the benefits of membership?

GS: As an organization dedicated to patient care and advocacy, we value our membership with the IAIABC because it keeps us informed at the policy-making level with the ability to collaborate with key industry and governmental officials to help further advancements in the workers’ compensation industry. We see this as critical to how we serve our clients as well as plan, prioritize, innovate, and execute our program. 
For any organization seeking to stay informed and maintain a competitive edge in the industry, we highly recommend becoming a member of the IAIABC. The access to critical information and collaborative opportunities offered by the association are immensely valuable.