Bangalore: Just when the burden of future health care seems to be looming large, it is robots that might be the answer to this growing crisis. Robots are becoming part of a broader 'telehealth' program in which a combination of electronics and communication can let doctors examine patients remotely or enable people to stay in touch with patients confined to their homes, reports Forbes.
As part of the U.S. Congress' ongoing health care debate, the House of Representatives has introduced language into its bill to establish an advisory committee on telehealth. The committee is to consider whether such procedures would be covered by Medicare and Medicaid - something that could be a giant step forward for robotics solutions.
"If we can virtually connect doctors to patients who need it most, wirelessly monitor our aging population and keep patients healthier at home, we can dramatically reduce our nation's health care costs," says Tandy Trower, Microsoft's robotics group's Director.
Although, robotic-assisted surgery has been going on for years, increasing number of companies are offering more technologies aimed at helping doctors ply their craft over great distances, particularly in rural areas.
Corporate giants including GE, Intel, LifeSize and Cisco are entering the health care market. In April, GE and Intel announced a quarter of a billion-dollar joint venture to develop home medical monitoring technologies. Recently, Cisco introduced "HealthPresence," a patient care technology that lets doctors and patients interact in much the same way as people engage in a videoconference.
"Companies use videoconference calling all the time; why shouldn't doctors?" says Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, suggesting that remote diagnostic technologies or 'telerobotics' could let doctors interact with patients even if they are home in bed. A robot equipped with vital sign sensors - such as a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor - could wirelessly convey that data to a doctor.
Microsoft and Google offer online health care accounts aimed at helping patients take better control of their own health records. There are also private practice doctors who are using all available social networking tools to stay on top of their patients' care.
Parkinson, who is an advocate for online medicine, cautions that there are side effects. "It's hard enough for doctors to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Doing it remotely gets even harder," he says. Also there is the issue of reimbursing doctors for their time. As a result, Parkinson believes telehealth will be a good way to augment care between in-person visits but doubts if it will ever completely replace in-office visits.
But, Microsoft's Trower believes that the next step in telepresence health care technologies will put a personal care robot in your home. "Imagine a robot in your elderly parents' home," Helen Grenier, Co-founder of iRobot and CEO of DroidWorks writes, "allowing you to virtually visit by means of video, or one that can deliver a drink and important medication at the right time, letting the aged remain independent longer."
"If we can virtually connect doctors to patients who need it most, wirelessly monitor our aging population and keep patients healthier at home, we can dramatically reduce our nation's health care costs," says Tandy Trower, Microsoft's robotics group's Director.
Although, robotic-assisted surgery has been going on for years, increasing number of companies are offering more technologies aimed at helping doctors ply their craft over great distances, particularly in rural areas.
Corporate giants including GE, Intel, LifeSize and Cisco are entering the health care market. In April, GE and Intel announced a quarter of a billion-dollar joint venture to develop home medical monitoring technologies. Recently, Cisco introduced "HealthPresence," a patient care technology that lets doctors and patients interact in much the same way as people engage in a videoconference.
"Companies use videoconference calling all the time; why shouldn't doctors?" says Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, suggesting that remote diagnostic technologies or 'telerobotics' could let doctors interact with patients even if they are home in bed. A robot equipped with vital sign sensors - such as a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor - could wirelessly convey that data to a doctor.
Microsoft and Google offer online health care accounts aimed at helping patients take better control of their own health records. There are also private practice doctors who are using all available social networking tools to stay on top of their patients' care.
Parkinson, who is an advocate for online medicine, cautions that there are side effects. "It's hard enough for doctors to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Doing it remotely gets even harder," he says. Also there is the issue of reimbursing doctors for their time. As a result, Parkinson believes telehealth will be a good way to augment care between in-person visits but doubts if it will ever completely replace in-office visits.
But, Microsoft's Trower believes that the next step in telepresence health care technologies will put a personal care robot in your home. "Imagine a robot in your elderly parents' home," Helen Grenier, Co-founder of iRobot and CEO of DroidWorks writes, "allowing you to virtually visit by means of video, or one that can deliver a drink and important medication at the right time, letting the aged remain independent longer."
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