Robot in Medical Scenario

Miami Valley Hospital South started to serve their patients remotely via robot.

Thru a robot, health care providers like nurses, diabetic educators, registered dietitians and wound specialists can have discussion with their patients at the Centerville hospital without leaving Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. They are using joystick to control the robot's movement in the patient's location. They can turn its head, via computer monitor. The hospital is equipped with Web cams and microphone where webcams can be adjusted to change the angle and zoom-in/zoom-out its lenses.

The robot will undergo a three-month trial so the hospital will assess its capabilities in different session and medical appointment.

In 3 years time, the Nursing Institute of West Central Ohio is renting the MVHS' robot from California-based InTouch Health in Santa Barbara. The rental fee is from $5,000 to $8,000 per month. According to Debi Sampsel, the Nursing Institute's director, by means of the technique, the Nursing Institute will determine the robot's effectiveness in medical scenery. The innovation will help the hospital to lessen the travel time of health practitioners. In fact, there are 5 other Ohio hospitals outside Dayton which are using robots. Patients may opt not to work together with health care personnel distantly. [via daytondailynews.com]