February 27, 2006
Robotic Physician Makes Rounds
Sinai Hospital in Baltimore has implemented a "rounding robot" that enables physicians to perform rounds remotely. The telemedicine technology is manufactured by InTouch Health. It allows physicians to log onto the Internet and use a remote control to manipulate the robot. The robot uses a video screen, digital camera and microphone to facilitate interactions between patients and physicians.
The 5-foot-tall robot displays a real-time video of the physician on its flat-screen "head." On top of this head sits a camera that serves as eyes, to capture images of the patient that are transmitted to the physician. The robot, which costs $5,000 per month to lease plus $5,000 per viewing station, is just one of two in use in Baltimore. The other has been in use for two years at Johns Hopkins Hospital. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins in 2004 found that 57% of patients whose physicians used the robot would be comfortable if the physicians continued to use the robot to facilitate care. Although the study included only 85 patients, other studies are underway with a larger number of participants.
Clinicians report that patients seem engaged by the new technology and are happy about the continuity of contact with the same physician. Such continuity of care can be difficult, especially on the weekend, in large practices where you’ve got multiple people covering, or if the doctor is at another hospital.
Dr. Alex Gandsas, who has been using this technology at Sinai Hospital, believes that the robot helps to reduce the gap between doctor and patient that is caused by the clinician's inability to be there all the time. He feels that patients respond positively to the technology.
Posted by rsk at February 27, 2006 09:19 PM