Nearly 90 percent of physicians who use rolling robots to remotely treat patients in the ICU do so without additional compensationyet a strong majority, 66 percent, consider the technology a blessing. None perceive such remote presence as a pure burden and, while 33 percent see it as a mixed blessing and burden, fully 100 percent intend to continue using it.

The FDA has expanded its clearance of InTouch Healths remote-presence monitors to allow use of the telemedicine technology in a number of acute-care environments.

Licensing, costs for technology and reimbursement for robotic telemedicine continue to impede progress, according to an article published in the January/February edition of Telemedicine and e-Health.

A remote-controlled, robotic telemedicine system in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is feasible and safe, according to a research published in the May editiion of Journal of Perinatology.

Advances in robotic capabilities, combined with the improving economic environment for medical services delivery and payments, are driving demand for surgical, assistive and telemedicine-based robots, according to ABI Research.

Royal Philips Electronics and Hansen Medical have agreed to co-develop integrated products that may simplify cardiac procedures to diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias.