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Miramar Hospital Uses Robot For Virtual Doctor Visits

MIRAMAR (CBS4) - Imagine a doctor's visit by remote control. At one South Florida hospital it is a reality.

New technology is allowing doctors at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood to use a robot to check up on patients at Memorial Hospital Miramar.

"We (can) interview families, get the chance to listen to the patient, to see the patient," said Dr. Galia Napchan Pomerantz at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.

Vanessa Manzie of Plantation brought her daughter Marissa to the Miramar hospital's emergency room went she started having trouble breathing.

"Marissa has asthma and it's gotten a little bit worse over the last few years, mostly coughing, but occasionally she does wheeze," said Manzie.

An emergency room doctor suggested that the family consult with a pulmonologist at another location. They did and they never had to leave the hospital thanks to the new technology.

"In this case we can consult a pulmonologist to guide us in preventive care for more long term care of the patient without having to wait two weeks or three weeks," said Dr. Ana Roig-Candisano of Memorial Hospital Miramar who pointed out that specialists can even view x-rays through the robot to help them make immediate recommendations for treatment.

The robot at Memorial Hospital Miramar is the only one of its kind in Broward County. Currently it's only being used for pediatric patients but there is talk that it may be expanded to include adult patients in the future.

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