By paNOW Staff

Digital doctors come to La Loche

Apr 17, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Patients in La Loche will have increased access to health care services thanks to the expansion of Remote Presence Technology (RPT).

RPT allows health care providers to perform real-time assessments and patient management to a remote location, through the use of mobile robots or a small hand-held devices known as a “doc-in-a-box.”

The mobile robot emulates the size of an adult, built to a height of 5’3” and can be driven by a clinician to the patient, operating like a real human in the health care facility. The smaller “doc-in-a-box” devices are laptop sized and can be taken to wherever needed, such as to a patients home or a trauma site.

Health Minister Jim Reiter launched the project through a demonstration from Saskatoon last week.

“This cutting-edge technology will make health care services more accessible for the people of La Loche,” he said in a statement while reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring timely and quality health care anywhere in the province.

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The technology will broaden health services in the community, reduce the need for costly medical transportation and allows patients to receive care in their own community and remain close to family.

The grandmother of one severely injured teenage girl welcomed the new technology.

“She needed to have frequent medical follow-up and physiotherapy, and without the ‘doc-in-a-box’ she wouldn’t have those treatments, as we would not have been able to travel as frequently as necessary to see the physicians and physiotherapists in Saskatoon,” Annette Montgrand said in a statement.

La Loche was selected based on its remote location and overall level of need. 

Initially, the RPT will be used for pediatric emergency assessment in La Loche as the Health Ministry explores additional priorities and other uses for the technology.

news@panow.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow