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FACTOR Methodist is the first in Houston to use this wireless robotic technology to help provide 24/7coverage for patients. B Y
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fter Michael Shea underwent emergency surgery at The Methodist Hospital for bleeding in his brain, he was recovering in the hospital’s neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) when, in the middle of the night, Dr. Saleem Zaidi arrived for a visit. Zaidi, neurointensivist director in the NICU, wasn’t physically in the same room. In fact, he wasn’t even in NICU. Zaidi was several miles away from Methodist, in his home, checking on his patient by way of a nearly six-foot-tall, remote-controlled mobile robot, nicknamed ROHAS (Remote Operated Health Assessment System). “I didn’t know where Dr. Zaidi was physically, but I appreciated him looking in on me personally in the middle of the night,” said Shea, an engineer at McDermott International. “It certainly had the wow factor.” ROHAS is one of two robotic “doctors” on staff at Methodist since the summer of 2006, caring for critically ill patients suffering from stroke and other neurological problems. “In Mr. Shea’s case, I wanted to check on his condition even though I couldn’t be there physically,” Zaidi said. “The remote presence technology allowed me to see him and the ICU nurses and staff, and talk with them face to face. Ultimately, it impacts how we’re able to provide quality treatment.”
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VOLUME 4, NUMBER 3 13
