Remote Presence Robot

During an acute stroke, almost 2 million brain cells die each minute. That means every second counts - and stroke patients must be treated as quickly as possible to maximize chances of survival and minimize brain damage. At The Medical Center of Plano, we use the RP-7® - a wireless, mobile, remote presence robot - to expedite the evaluation and treatment of stroke patients.

This telemedicine technology allows physicians to essentially be in two places at once. All of NeuroLink's neurologists can remotely connect to the robot from anywhere anytime, using a secure Internet connection. When a potential stroke patient enters our Emergency Department, the neurologist on-call is notified and logs into the system from their computer. Within minutes, they are evaluating the patient for stroke - a response often faster than if the neurologist was already in the hospital.

Under the direct control of a physician, the RP-7 robot moves untethered, allowing the doctor to freely interact with patients, family members and hospital staff. Using this technology, physicians can perform a full neurological exam in real-time and determine treatment, from miles away.

Our neurologists also use the robot to:

• Discuss a patient's status at the nurses' station
• Drive into the patient room
• Observe patient behavior
• Review x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans
• Discuss care with the patient and/or family members
• Return to the nurses' station to give orders or discuss next steps

The Medical Center of Plano is the first and only hospital in Collin County (and one of just a few in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex) to offer this level of robotic technology.