title: Robotic Telepresence in a Medical Intensive Care Unit--Clinicians' Perceptions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Robotic telepresence has been used for outsourcing of healthcare services for more than a decade; however, its use within an academic medical department is not yet widespread. Intensive care unit (ICU) robots can be used to increase access to off-site supervising physicians and other specialists, reducing possible wait time for difficult admissions and procedures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the use of ICU robots through a pilot program in an academic hospital and examine provider attitudes toward the usability and effectiveness of an ICU robot.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was done as a postinterventional cross-sectional seven-question survey in a medical ICU in an urban academic hospital. Participants were attending physicians, fellows, residents, nurses, and respiratory therapists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Users of the ICU robot reported satisfaction with communication, and improved patient care. They also reported perceived improved quality of care with the use of the robot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings show the importance of a whole-team approach to the installation and implementation of an ICU robot. The ICU robot is an effective tool when it is used to visualize and communicate with patients, bedside staff, and families. However, a number of providers are still not trained or have not been shown how to use the ICU robot, which affects the overall utilization rate.
authors.affiliation: Mirna Becevic, PhD, MHA, is an assistant research professor of telemedicine at the University of Missouri Department of Dermatology in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Becevic
authors.affiliation: Martina A. Clarke, MS, is a PhD candidate at the University of Missouri Informatics Institute in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Martina A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Mohammed M. Alnijoumi, MD, is a fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alnijoumi
authors.affiliation: Harjyot S. Sohal, MD, is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Harjyot S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sohal
authors.affiliation: Suzanne A. Boren, PhD, MHA, is an associate professor at the University of Missouri Department of Health Management and Informatics in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Suzanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Boren
authors.affiliation: Min S. Kim, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of Missouri Informatics Institute in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Min S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Rachel Mutrux is a senior director at the University of Missouri's Missouri Telehealth Network in Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mutrux
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: ICU; health informatics; robotic telepresence; telehealth; telemedicine