Highly Mobile Remote Presence Robotics in an Acute Care Setting

Dan Roach III, MDOffice of Emerging Health Technologies

University of South Alabama

The Problem

Critical Nursing Shortage.Increasing numbers of patients.Shortage of health care workers.

Technology

Two parts. Care station. Robot.

Tech cont. – Care Station

Standard desktop computer.Video camera.Microphone.Joystick.Keyboard & Mouse.High-speed internet connection.

Tech cont. – Robot (Companion)

Metal chassis.Computer monitor on swiveling base.Video camera.Desktop computer inside.Wireless network adapter.Infrared sensors.Three ball wheels.Battery.

Tech cont. – Wireless network.

Wireless access points (802.11b).Too much is better than not enough.Channel selection is important.

How does it work?

Caregiver at care station drives the companion to patients.

Highly mobile video conferencing.Movement limited only by wireless

network.Video and audio codecs developed.500 kb/sec is all that is needed.

Applications - Nursing

General medicine floor.Find jobs that would increase nursing

efficiency.Long term observation.

Suicide risk. Altered mental status. Children.

Applications – Physicians

Medical ICU.After hours admissions.Shorten length of stay in the ICU?Rounding.Resident check-out.

Results - Nurses

Helped free a nurse when patient needed long term observation.

Easy to use.Short learning curve.Enthusiastic.

Ideas to improve robot for nursing uses. Eagerness & willingness to try it.

Results - Physicians

Easy to use.Short learning curve.Ability to see patient from home helpful.Ability to view patient data helpful.

Vent settings. ECG. Monitors.

Results - Patients

Patients love it!Liked being seen by their physician more

often.Feel special.Talking to a person, not a robot.Experience not always what is expected.