UofL Health Care demonstrated its robotic capabilities at a Western Baptist Hospital seminar.
The seminar was on African-Americans' susceptibility to stroke as they are twice as likely to die from stroke as Caucasians, according to the National Stroke Association. African-American women are especially vulnerable. Half of all African-American women will die from stroke or heart disease. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and sickle cell anemia.
This event comes at a time when Western Baptist is making great strides in stroke treatment. The hospital announced a partnership with UofL Health Care in May 2009, taking the state’s top stroke specialists from UofL Health Care to western Kentucky through a robot telemedicine network.
To improve access and expedite stroke care, the UofL Health Care robotic network offers 24/7 support, adding its team of experts to the spectrum of care available at Western Baptist. From a mobile robot, a wireless Internet link allows specialists in Louisville to interact with patients, families, physicians and nurses at Western Baptist. This technological innovation was on display during the seminar as the robot moved around the room and interacted with attendees.
UofL Health Care is a comprehensive medical treatment, research and services organization, combining the extraordinary resources of University Hospital, the James Graham Brown Cancer Center and University of Louisville Physicians. Based in Louisville, UofL Health Care operates the second largest remote presence robotic network in the country and has partnerships with hospitals throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information, visit www.uoflhealthcare.org.