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Robots and physicians work together
to increase the quality of care
With The Methodist Hospital’s
focus on patient safety, quality
and service a top priority, the
hospital has just announced the addition
of some high-tech help in one of the
intensive care units (ICU). The ICU is the
first in the Texas Medical Center to be
equipped with wireless remote presence
technology, in the form of a nearly six-foot
tall robot with a
widescreen twoway
television
monitor. The RP-
7 robot, made by
InTouch Health,
Inc., allows physicians,
patients,
nurses and other staff to “virtually” interact
and talk at a moment’s notice. The
robot does not replace physicians seeing
patients in person. Instead, the technology
supplements those visits and makes
patient-doctor interactions timelier.
This technology will allow Methodist
physicians, and nurses the ability to offer
24-hour coverage in this ICU. From a
remote location, physicians use a control
station to guide the robot to the patient’s
bedside, review medical chart information
and speak with patients and nurses
at the bedside. The physician can then
use the robot to communicate with both
the patient and the nurse to determine
the appropriate and immediate care. Dr.
Thinh Tran, VP of Operations for Patient
Safety/Quality, at The Methodist Hospital
is leading up this effort.
This new
technology
constantly is
designed to
increase the
quality of care
the Methodist
provides
to its patients and gives physicians the
opportunity to continue to communicate
with patients during off hours. At a
certain point, patients sometimes can
even forget there’s a machine in front of
them, and they are able to interact with
the physicians on an individual, intimate
level. The hope will one to have multiply
robots in hospitals around the world
communicating with Methodist’s world
class physicians.
For more information regarding this article or to talk with an patient representative please use the following contact information:
Methodist International Services
6560 Fannin ST 220
Houston, Texas 77030
Telephone: (713) 441-2340
Fax: (713) 793-7097
Email: methodistinternational@tmh.tmc.edu
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