A local hospital is getting new neurologists who resemble a character from the Jetsons.
St. Mary's Medical Center has implemented a new medical device called the Pearl machine that helps speed up the process of treating stroke patients.
Christy Franklin, director of the neuroscience center at St. Mary's, said a stroke patient has a short window of time for treatment to prevent permanent brain damage or even death.
According to the American Stroke Association's Web site, only 3 to 5 percent of patients who suffer from a stroke are able to receive critical care in time.
"One of the biggest benefits of the Pearl is that patients in certain areas who maybe do not have a neurologist on site have quicker access to be treated for stroke," Franklin said. "This machine allows a neurologist to have a conversation with a patient without the physician being there."
The machine is built to resemble a human form and is about 5-feet 6-inches tall and weighs about 250 pounds, Franklin said. She also said the robot is situated on a roller ball, enabling it to turn easily. The top of the machine is a computer monitor with two-way video and two-way audio microphones, allowing the physician to sit at a computer in his office or home and examine the patient.
"The patient can see the physician's face and (vice versa)," Franklin said.
The neurologist can do a neurology exam by talking to the patient and asking him or her about his or her symptoms, Franklin said. She said the physician will ask the patient to move his or her arms and legs and watch for signs indicating a stroke. Franklin said the doctor can look at the patient's eyes and face to see if there are any stroke symptoms such as facial drooping or if one arm is weaker than the other.
"We are the only hospital in West Virginia to currently use this robot," Franklin said.
Jenny Edwards, neuroscience nurse specialist at St. Mary's, said the Pearl machine received its name after a naming contest held at the hospital. The name Pearl is an acronym for "physicians extender at remote location." The technical name given to the robot by the manufacturing company is RP7.
"To me, what is unique about this machine is in places where a neurologist is not available one of our doctors can log in and assess this patient from a different location," Edwards said. "So wherever there is a laptop and Internet connection, whether the physician is in California or Canada, they can log in and work the robot."
Signs to look for that indicate a stroke are important to remember. According to the American Stroke Association's Web site, signs of weakness in the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body, happen frequently. Other signs are confusion, difficulty walking or seeing or the sudden onset of a severe headache.
"The robot is a great addition to the medical community as far as stroke care goes," Edwards said. "I think it is nothing but a plus, (and) it's beneficial to the patients and their families. It is a way the doctor can be there any time or day, almost instantaneously."
Miranda Rosiek can be contacted at rosiek2@marshall.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!