Children's Specialized Hospital Uses Robot for Patient Interaction
The N.J.-based Children's Specialized Hospital has deployed the use of a robot that allows physicians to interact with their patients at any hour of the day without physically being in the hospital.
The hospital says it is the first pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the country using VGo, a technology termed a “telepresence” healthcare solution. This new technology will aim to help children with special needs and complex medical conditions. VGo is a secure wireless-connected device that enables a distant person to be “present” through two- way video, audio, and motor-driven action. VGo is 100 percent controlled by a person using a PC, Mac or iPad. With its integrated camera, microphones, and video display—all on a robot style platform—VGo can run for up to 12 hours between battery charges.
At PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital, a 60-bed inpatient pediatric rehabilitation hospital in New Brunswick, doctors are using VGo to extend their reach to monitor and consult with medically-fragile patients and their families at any hour of the day in the hospital. With one currently residing within the New Brunswick-based hospital, Children’s Specialized says it hopes to expand its reach and improve access to pediatric specialists to children living in medically underserved communities. With 12 current locations across New Jersey, a patient in Egg Harbor Township can consult with a neuro-developmental pediatrician in Clifton, 250 miles away in real time, all on secure networks and all compliant with federal patient privacy regulations, the hospital says.
“Telemedicine is transforming the way we provide health care, and we are fortunate Children’s Specialized Hospital can offer this innovative tool to improve patient care and communication between healthcare providers and our patients and their family,” Christopher Haines, chief medical officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital, said in a statement. “It provides our physicians critical contact, at any time, to ensure continuity of care for children with complex conditions.”
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Rajiv Leventhal
Managing Editor
Rajiv Leventhal is Managing Editor of Healthcare Innovation, covering healthcare IT leadership and strategy. Since 2012, he has been covering health IT developments for the publication's CIO and CMIO-based audience, and has taken keen interest in areas such as policy and payment, patient engagement, health information exchange, mobile health, healthcare data security, and telemedicine.
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