title: Application of a robot for critical care rounding in small rural hospitals.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to present an option for a model of care that allows small rural hospitals to be able to provide specialty physicians for critical care patient needs in lieu of on-site critical care physician coverage. A real-time, 2-way audio and video remote presence robot is used to bring a specialist to the bedside to interact with patients. This article discusses improvements in quality and finance outcomes as well as care team and patient satisfaction associated with this model. Discussion also includes expansion of the care model to the emergency department for acute stroke care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Administration, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, 1405 West Jefferson, Waxahachie, TX 75165, USA. Electronic address: Cindymur@baylorhealth.edu.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Acute Care Services, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, 1405 West Jefferson, Waxahachie, TX 75165, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, 1405 West Jefferson, Waxahachie, TX 75165, USA.
authors.forename: Cay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kubin
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013781:Texas
keywords: Critical care physician shortage; Critical care rounding; Faster access and improved quality and finance outcomes; Remote presence robot; Stroke care; Telemedicine