Video Robots Redefine 'TV Doctor'
From: Washington Post - 07/06/2005 - P. A1
By: Rob Stein

Physicians in dozens of US hospitals are using robots to remotely make their
rounds, consult with colleagues, respond to emergency calls, and monitor
intensive-care units. One such device is Dr. Robot, a wheeled machine
controlled by a joystick and equipped with a camera, speaker, and video
monitor that allows doctors to see and converse with patients and others.
Other applications of telemedicine include robot-assisted surgery and
medication dispensation; email communications between doctors and patients in
rural or poor urban areas; psychotherapy via video teleconferencing; and
remote monitoring and care of elderly people. Telemedicine is being praised
for improving doctors' efficiency and enabling them to serve more patients,
but critics argue that this makes medical care even more impersonal. Several
experts contend that physical touch is essential to the healing process, and
warn that physicians who monitor patients remotely could miss subtle clues
about their condition. On the other hand, advocates cite studies indicating
that the quality of care delivered through telemedicine is at least equal to,
if not better than, that of face-to-face interaction, and patients report
general satisfaction with telemedicine. Supporters also say patients treated
via telemedicine often get more time with doctors and are discharged sooner.
"I think we'll get to the point in the future where the use of robots and
robotics and computer-aided diagnosis and treatment will transform the
delivery of medical care," projects Jonathan Linkous of the American
Telemedicine Association. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/27/AR2005062701842.html

Links:

Dr. Robot Website
http://www.drrobot.com/

Dr. Robot Tested at Hopkins
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/2003/August/030805.htm

Dr. Robot @ Hopkins
http://testtel.emagination.com/TEL/athopkins/Doctor_Robot/

Is There a Dr. Robot in the House?
http://www.januarymagazine.com/kidsbooks/dr_robot.html

Meet Dr. Robot
http://www.pb.uiuc.edu/dividends/dr.robot/index.html

Dr. Robot, Inc.
http://www.e-clec-tech.com/drrobot.html

Dr. Robot
http://wxyz.com/wxyz/health/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15919_3645232,00.html

Dr. Robot
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=11261&hed=Dr.+Robot

InTouch Health Newsroom
http://www.intouchhealth.com/articles.html

Robot tested as a doctor-patient liaison
http://www.thejournalnews.com/mindbody/sept03/robot.html

Designing A Robot That Can Sense Human Emotion
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021216070618.htm