‘Doc-in-a-box’ improves access to health in the north
Some innovative technology is allowing rural and remote patients access to medical experts while staying within their home community.
Remote Presence Technology (RPT) enables health care providers to perform real-time assessments, diagnostics, and patient management from a remote location using a mobile robot or smaller portable hand-held device known as a ‘doc-in-a-box.”
The province of Saskatchewan recently committed $500,000 for use of RPT in Stony Rapids. It is currently being used for pediatric emergency assessment.
“This is particularly important in rural and remote areas where patients might otherwise have to travel to receive more specialized health services,” Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit said.