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'Robot doctor' now on call
by Charles S. Williams
(Photo caption) Charles S. Williams/staff photo-Gene Faile, Wilkes Regional Medical Center's chief executive officer, shows the hospital's new "robot doctor." On the robot's video screen is Dr. Charles Tegeler IV, a professor of neurology at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
If you suffer a stroke and are transported to Wilkes Regional Medical Center, you'll be examined by a team that includes a neurologist at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC). You won't have to be transported to Winston-Salem for that exam, however. The physician will be able to see you, monitor your vitals, speak with you and the doctors, and even go to the waiting room and speak with your family, all from the hospital in Winston...or perhaps even from the doctor's home, thanks to a robot.
It's all a part of the new "Telestroke Network" of WFUBMC that Wilkes Regional is joining. At the heart of the program is a "robot doctor"-the RP-7 Robot, to be exact-which is a "robotic video conferencing system" housed in a nearly 6-foot tall "body. Some of those attending the Tuesday night meeting of the WRMC hospital operating board light-heartedly noted that the robot reminded them of Rosie, the maid on "The Jetsons."
The computer and other hardware, as well as a speaker, are in the main body of the robot. On top of that is a television screen to allow staff and patients here to see the physician, in real time. At the top is a video camera that is controlled remotely by the doctor. The physician can zoom from a wide angle to a close-up and pan from side to side and up and down. With a motor and wheels on the bottom of the robot, the doctor can "drive" the robot around the treatment area.
With the system, the doctor can review and evaluate the patient's status at bedside, determine the needed treatment, and decide if the patient needs to be transported to Baptist.
Dr. Charles Tegeler IV, a professor of neurology at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, presented the demonstration of the system from Baptist to local board members. The system is completely wireless, with the connection through the hospital's wireless Internet system.
"When a stroke patient comes in, the personnel in the emergency department will make one call or send one e-mail to Baptist," he said. "One of the five specialists at Baptist can get on the computer and watch or direct the treatment in Wilkes."
He added, "With strokes, every minute counts. The patients can be transported by air or over the road, but brain cells are being lost. The network will allow for better and quicker treatment."
Gene Faile, Wilkes Regional's chief executive officer, said that the network here should be operational within several weeks.
"Right now, we're fine tuning everything," he said. "We are taking the robot to different locations to make sure that we will have the wireless connectivity everywhere."
He added, "We are excited to be able to offer the services. In the event of a stroke, you don't have an hour to have a neurologist available. We will be able to offer this service 24/7, 365 days a year. This will really advance care for stroke patients here."
Physician Network growing
Faile also reported that the Wilkes Physicians Network (WPN) continues to grow with the addition of several new physicians who have been recruited.
WPN is a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of WRMC that was created in August 2008 to recruit and employ physicians in Wilkes. The network owns and operates select practices in the community.
"We have now employed four hospitalists (board certified physicians who provide admissions, patient follow-up and review of medical tests while directing each patient's treatment plan at the hospital), two orthopedic specialists/surgeons, two gynecologists, one general surgeon, and two family practice physicians," said Faile. "Also, we will soon be adding a gastroenterologist."
Dr. T. J. Pulliam, gastroenterologist, will be joining WPN in April. He will be relocating his current practice to a new location in West Park, to perform qualifying procedures in his office rather than as out-patient procedures at the hospital. Faile said that some insurance providers will pay most or all of the cost for colonoscopies if they are performed in a physician's office.
Renovation, construction
Faile and Marlin Markham, the chief financial officer, told the board that the hospital is working on a finance package for the expansion and renovation of the emergency department and surgical area. The department will expand by 9,500 square feet as the building will be extended 88 feet into the adjacent parking area, and two surgical suites will be enlarged.
The total cost of the two projects is estimated at $13.5 million.
Faile said that work on the emergency department should begin next year. That will be followed by the surgical area construction.
Faile reported that renovation work is now under way in several areas. As a part of the current project, the surgery waiting area for families is being expanded. Work is also under way to expand patient rooms on Second South.
Financial report
Wilkes Regional reported a net loss of $213,944 for the month of November and a loss of $40,645 for December. That puts the year-to-date totals for the fiscal year (which started in October) at a loss of $98,044.
Through the same period of the prior year, the hospital reported a profit of $214,447 and finished the year with a profit of $1,121,685.
"In November, volumes were down across the board," Markham told the board. "In December the volume was down a little from the previous year, perhaps due to the economy. Also, we had a significant investment into our physician recruitment program, paying $60,000 for start-up costs. These investments will position WRMC for future growth by adding needed physician services. Without those costs, we would have shown a profit of $20,000."
Markham added that, so far in January, "Our volume is better, and our revenue is on track with last year." |
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