The Serious Business Of Digital Medical Games

25 Jan 2023

There are fewer than a handful of approved prescription video game digital therapeutics, but gamification in patient care is proving its worth as a novel way of treating a range of conditions, from vision loss to dyslexia and ADHD. Now, the onus is on lawmakers and insurers to create a clear path towards reimbursement.

Video Games Engage Patients In Their Care And Are A Treatment Unto Themselves • Source: Shutterstock

More welcome than a shot in the arm, prescription video games are staking out a spot on the treatment landscape. Although less than a handful of prescription games are currently approved and reimbursed in the US and Europe, proponents say they have the potential to treat numerous pathologies in novel ways where drug treatments may be less successful.

Historically, the primary selling point of video games in patient care has been as retention and engagement tools, and indeed...