Inpatient Monitoring Facilitated with Telemedicine Robot
A recent study published in the Archives of Surgery noted that a robot assisted video monitoring system enables physicians to monitor patients after undergoing surgery.
The study recruited 270 patients from three different academic medical centers into a randomized, controlled trial who were undergoing surgery for a urologic procedure which required an inpatient stay between one and three days. Patients were assigned to one of two treatment arms. They either received conventional follow-up care with bedside rounds or telerounds using the robotic system.
The main outcome of interest was post-operative morbidity. Additional outcomes considered by the team included length of hospital stay and patient satisfaction.
The robot employed in the study includes a number of components: a base unit containing a camera, a flat-screen monitor, microphone, base unit with motor, and a central processing unit. Information is shared between the patient and clinician using a high-speed wireless network. Integrated in the system is proprietary software. Physicians are able to check up on patients remotely from a centralized base station.
The team noted that the two patient groups had equivalent rates of morbidity, as well of length of stay in the hospital. Both study arms were associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. These results suggest that virtual postoperative visits provide patients with the same level of care following surgery. This may provide an alternative means to follow patients that is simplified for busy clinicians.
December 28, 2007 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Quality, Safety, Errors, Surgery