GALLIPOLIS — Holzer Medical Center’s Stroke Unit recently became the first and only in the state to be equipped with a RP-7 remote presence robot thanks to St. Mary’s Medical Center’s mission-driven initiative to improve stroke care to the region.

The robot, nicknamed TIA for Transient Ischemic Attacks or stroke, is wireless and mobile, standing approximately five-feet two-inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds. It is able to be controlled by physicians and other healthcare professionals from a computer workstation at St. Mary’s in order to provide a remote presence for stroke care to Holzer. The workstation is equipped with a video camera, microphone, joystick, and specialized software and connects to the internet via wireless network. Controllers can drive the robot, swivel its screen, take pictures, communicate, and more.

The system’s goal is to improve stroke care and provide advanced treatment by enabling specialists to interact with patients at area hospitals without physically making the trip. This is especially important in stroke care as early recognition of symptoms and timely treatment can be essential to the recovery process. In addition, patients in rural areas are now able to receive the same care as those in Columbus.

A stroke is basically a “brain attack” that occurs when a blood flow is interrupted to an area of the brain and requires emergency treatment. Abilities controlled by that part of the brain are affected such as speech, movement, and memory.

Stroke is the number three killer in the United States and between 128 to 138 stroke deaths occur in Gallia County per 100,000 population. On average, an American has a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies from one every three to four minutes.

St. Mary’s plans to put out eight of the Intouch RP-7 remote presence robots to area hospitals in order to improve care to rural localities.