TELEMEDICINE FOR CONSULTATION

Telemedicine for consultation

Telemedicine for consultation

Introduction

The robotic system of RP-7 Remote Presence has a control station from which the doctor conducts and manages the robot, which has integrated camera, microphone and a joystick for proper handling. It also incorporates the software necessary to access data such as digital radiography, laboratory tests and clinical history of patients, which support at all times to the doctor.

The RP-7 uses an omnidirectional drive system human-style that allows you to maneuver safely in the hospital setting under the supervision of a physician director. It is also equipped with a sensor system, to avoid collisions that provide the physician who manages vision to drive safely added.

The control station is telecommunications with the robot via Internet connection broadband and local wireless connections. So, looking at the screen of the control station the doctor can see what the robot covers and listens to what patients say to the robot. At the same time, patients may see the doctor on the screen and talk to him normally (Briscoe 2008).

Often a doctor cannot move to the patient or cannot pay all the attention you need. Founded in 2002, InTouch Health is a provider of remote presence that allows the user to be in two places both by mobility technology. The company has 60 employees and has headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.

Discussion

The Spanish multinational Palex Medical SA presented today at the Hospital Universitario de Valencia Peset Doctor, its new Remote Presence Robot RP-7, budgeted at 200,000 euros, which allows the specialist to see a patient from anywhere in the world through an Internet connection broadband.

The event was attended by the Minister of Health, Rafael Blasco, the head of the Division Line Palex Robotics, Juan Bautista Comes, the manager of the department of health 10, Carmen Snabben and international vice president of InTouch Health Inc., David Stuart.

Comes explained that robot, which is the salary of three specialists, not intended to replace specialists, but which will provide advice anywhere in the world, especially in cities or small hospitals that do not have these doctors, and access while hospital's network to know the history or tests that have been practiced to the patient (Della 2009).

Thus, the RP-7, manufactured by InTouch Health Inc., allows pass queries 'virtual' from primary care in the emergency room with a consequent saving of travel time, supporting, among resident doctors on duty and attachments in hospital wards, to prevent infections when a patient should remain isolated in the infectious disease units, learning remote surgical techniques in teaching hospitals or visits pass without the presence of all residents.

Telepresence robots are a new way health care, which involves the use of audio and video in real time between two teams health through the broadband internet. In order to carry out this service, a robot is required that works as an interface between the specialized equipment in critical care medicine and the health team distant, a central station, wireless antennas for signal transmission of Internet moving the robot in the ...