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Volume2 Issue6
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I
ssues and
P
eople
TheRobotPractitioner
TheRemotePresence robot usesUSBpowered intra-oral andophthalmoscopecameras equippedwith
light attachments. Highpoweredcameras andmonitorspositionedon the robot allow faculty from the
CollegesofNursing,MedicineandDentistry located inanurbancentre tomaneuver the robot freely,
communicatedirectly, andconduct assessments and (oral) health screeningswithnorthernnursing
students in real timeaspart of their pediatricpracticum.
Source:
Universityof Saskatchewanpress release, “Interprofessional team receivesaward for eHealth” (February24, 2015).
School children from
NorthernSaskatchewan
interactingwith
Dr.Hayesduringa thirdyear
pediatricclinical nursing
practicum.
What is telehealth?
Telehealthhelpsbringcare
closer tohome for Canadiansby
linkingpatientswith their health
care teamwhen theyarenot in
the same location, oftenusing
videoconferencing.
(Definition: CanadaHealth Infoway)
Canyouseeyourselfusing this
technologywithdental studentsso they
canprovidecare topatients in remotesettings?
For sure,we’d like to startmoving thatway. Butwealsowant to
continueeducatingnurseswhoarequiteactive in these rural north-
erncommunities. Thehope is to includedental students andpoten-
tiallymedical students aswell, andhaveall thesehealthprofessionals
working together towards improving theoral healthof these
communities.
How is itworkingso far?
Weare still inour infancy, butwe’ve received reallygood feedback
from thecommunitieswe’reworkingwith. Thenursing students love
it, and the kidswhowe screenabsolutely lovedealingwith the robot!
Theyfind thedentistryexperience less scaryvia the robot.
What’snext for thisprogram?
Iwould love tocontinueeducatingnurses and if there ispotential for getting
other healthprofessionalsonboard, thatwouldbegreat. I think there’spotential
touse telehealth inour other dental healthprograms. There is alsopotential for
allowingaccess to specialists, so theycouldhave someavailability for consulta-
tions tohealthproviders in thesecommunities.
What’syouradvice forotherswhoareconsideringusing telehealth?
I encourage thinkingoutsideof thebox in termsof howwedeliver oral health
care. Theuseof remotepresence technologycouldprovideaway to reach those
segmentsof thepopulationwhodon’t traditionallypresent toprivatepractice.
