Connecting the Unconnected: Telemedicine for Rural EDs

From Emergency Medicine News:

For Robert Galli, MD, the value of a telemedicine program that serves 15 rural emergency departments is measured in the lives and health of people. Consider the 85-year-old woman who showed up at a hospital 70 miles away with a myocardial infarction.

Navy Wants Doc-Bots, Robo-Ambulances

From Wired:

Not all of the military’s robot research goes into creating unfeeling killing machines. Some of them are here to heal, like the Navy’s plan to create a medical robot to treat troops carried by drones.

The Office of Naval Research recently announced that it’s looking to build a prototype medical robot it calls the Autonomous Critical Care System. ACCS’ first job would be monitoring critical patients’ vital signs. Eventually, though, the Navy wants its bot to provide fluid, drugs, anaesthesia, suction, oxygen and help regulate a patient’s temperature.

The Navy envisions its medic-bot actually diagnosing and managing a number of “medically complex, life-threatening clinical events” for more than six hours — to be done either autonomously or with the assistance of a human caregiver. To do some of that critical management, ACCS would come equipped with its own drug kit, including “epinephrine, phenylephrine, dopamine, vasopressin, paralytics” among others.

Patient found in ceiling above emergency room

From the McDuffie Mirror:

McDuffie Regional Medical Center operations were back to normal by Sunday after Thomson police found a patient who had gained access to the ceiling above the emergency department.

“The patient was found unharmed in the hospital,” according to a news release issued by the hospital on Tuesday.

Thomson Police Chief Joseph D. Nelson said Anthony Curley, 25, of Dearing, has been charged with one count of criminal trespass, one count of interfering with government property and one count of misdemeanor obstruction of a police officer. Curley was lodged in the McDuffie County Law Enforcement Center.

Nelson said Curley went to the hospital emergency room Friday evening, complaining of mental issues. Curley asked to use the restroom. Nelson said a nurse heard a commotion in the restroom and entered to see Curley climbing into the ceiling area.

Emergency responders were called and searched the hospital ceiling and roof area until about 3 a.m.

Early Saturday afternoon, Nelson was contacted. He and four other Thomson police officers responded. Two National Guardsmen joined other responders.

Police found Curley in the duct area above the emergency room. Nelson said Curley appeared dehydrated and fearful. He was treated by medical personnel before he was released to police custody.