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Contact: Melissa Jue
(916) 851-2052
When Minutes Count, Mercy's New Robot
Helps Stroke Patients in the Emergency Department
The Elliott Family Foundations' generous gift of $500,000 makes it possible
Folsom, CA, April 24, 2009 - Stroke patients who arrive at Mercy Hospital of Folsom's emergency department now have immediate access to a Mercy Neurological Institute stroke specialist, with the help of a new telemedicine robot. Mercy Hospital of Folsom is the first hospital in the Sacramento region to use the InTouch Health RP-7(TM) wireless telemedicine robot.
The robot connects stroke patients to neurologists from the Mercy Neurological Institute at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento and Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael. Both hospitals are nationally certified as primary stroke centers, giving patients the most advanced stroke care available. Specialists at these hospital sites control the wireless, mobile remote presence robot at Mercy Hospital of Folsom which enables them to examine and talk directly to patients, consult with on-site physicians, assist and help direct therapy and interact directly with the family.
The Elliott family knows much about improving lives in the community and preparing the region for the future, through both business and philanthropy. The Elliott Family Foundations, the philanthropic entity of Elliott Homes, support numerous projects, both nationally and regionally. Their generous gift of $500,000 to Mercy Foundation to grow the regional efforts of the Mercy Neurological Institute, will support efforts to reduce the incidence of stroke and improve treatment options for this life-threatening and disabling disease. "The Elliott Family Foundations support stroke research, education and treatment. Our gift to Mercy will help victims of stroke get immediate and ground-breaking care, right in their own communities, close to home and their families," said Roxanne Elliott, director, Elliott Family Foundations.
"Due to the philanthropic generosity of the Elliott family, this robot enables us to continue giving quality care, close to home," said Don Hudson, president of Mercy Hospital of Folsom. "We are thrilled to have this state-of-the-art technology available to our patients."
Stroke - the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of disability in adults - is a common and disabling disease. Most strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. The results can be as serious as brain damage or death. Mercy Folsom's remote presence robot will connect highly trained specialists to stroke patients in the emergency room within minutes.
The RP-7(TM), manufactured by InTouch Health, allows physicians to be in two places at once. The 5-foot-tall cylinder-shaped robot has a flat-screen computer monitor as a face on which patients, family and staff can see the physician's face in real time. A zoom-lens camera and microphone on top of the screen enables physicians to see and hear patients during examinations and read patient charts and test results. The physician operates the robot from an off-site control station equipped with a laptop, video camera, microphone, joystick and specialized software.
The presence of Mercy's new robot signifies the advancements Mercy is making in its neurological services and reinforces the Folsom community's commitment to its only hospital. By developing its stroke network, Mercy is connecting stroke specialists to patients at other hospitals. The network's goal is to connect to rural hospitals that could benefit from Mercy's clinical strengths.
"When a stroke happens, time is critical and patients need treatment as quickly as possible," said M. Asim Mahmood, MD, Mercy's regional medical director of neurovascular medicine and neurology. "The telemedicine program allows Mercy stroke specialists to evaluate a patient in a matter of minutes and that access to care could be life-saving."
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About Mercy Folsom Hospital
Mercy Hospital of Folsom, an 85-bed acute care hospital located at 1650 Creekside Drive in Folsom, is committed to providing excellent healthcare for the Folsom, El Dorado Hills and foothill communities. As these communities grow, the hospital continues to expand its services to meet the needs of area families.
About Mercy Foundation
Established in 1954, Mercy Foundation is responsible for raising philanthropic support and community awareness for the works of the Sisters of Mercy in the areas of healthcare, education, affordable housing and care for the poor and the elderly in the greater Sacramento region.
About Elliott Family Foundations
The Harry C. Elliott III & Deborah L. Elliott Family Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Elliott Homes, a fourth-generation developer and homebuilder which has built more than 35,000 homes since its founding in 1914. The Margaret F. Elliott Fund honors the memory of Margaret Elliott, the matriarch of the Elliott family as wife, mother and grandmother who succumbed to complications from strokes.
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