The overall objective of this investigation is to understand the patient response to a robotic platform used to facilitate telehealth triage in the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the manner in which emergency department triage is completed. Attempts at cohorting individuals with potential COVID-19 disease in order to prevent disease transmission to healthcare workers and minimize the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) have renewed interest in telemedical solutions as a method to triage and manage individuals with COVID-19. This investigation deploys a legged robotic platform to facilitate agile, highly mobile telemedicine to manage COVID-19 patients in the emergency department. The primary objective is to measure the patient response to interacting with these systems.
Device: Doctor Spot
Robotic platform (Boston Dynamics) controlled by clinician with video interface to facilitate telemedicine triage
Inclusion Criteria:
- Presenting to the emergency department for evaluation
- > 18 years old
Exclusion Criteria:
- Brought to emergency department via ambulance
- <18 years old
- non-english speaking
- in extremis, or unable to participate due to underlying acute medical condition
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States