Positioning of Telemedicine Robots: From Clinical Diagnosis to Enhanced Care Quality and Chronic Disease Management

As a complement to the traditional healthcare model, telemedicine has been integrated into the comprehensive clinical diagnosis and treatment process. According to the latest annual report released by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), U.S. health insurance payers have increased their coverage of telemedicine services from 10 million visits in the previous year to 15 million visits. In China, current hospital-based telemedicine models, such as large-screen remote consultation centers, have yet to break through their "fixed" operational patterns to fully leverage their advantages in practical applications.

After six months of pilot implementation of the “Weihu” robot-assisted telemedicine practice, we have initially clarified its precise “functional positioning” and potential advantages. This article uses diagrams to briefly explain the functional positioning of telemedicine robots, ranging from the clinical diagnostic process to enhancing the quality of diagnosis and treatment and managing chronic diseases.



Telemedicine Consultation Services: The Current Method of Using Large Screens in Hospital Conference Rooms

It can serve as an expert consultation platform and provide certain telemedicine advisory services in the clinical diagnosis of complex diseases. However, due to prominent constraints related to time, space, and mobility, physicians and patients are unable to participate in consultations with flexible mobility, thereby failing to deliver personalized, high-quality medical advisory services.

Telemedicine must possess "mobility" capabilities to significantly enhance its application and complementary advantages.


Application of the "WeiHu" Robot: Assisting Telemedicine and the Clinical Diagnostic Process for Diseases

Telemedicine models have been fully leveraged, including personalized communication and mobile two-way video consultations. Most critically, they have mobilized medical resources to meet the healthcare needs of remote patients. The application has clearly defined "rigid demands" and specialized/subject-specific domains, such as:

1) Teleconsultation and Two-Way Referral at Community Health Service Centers

2) Specialized infectious disease hospitals and specialized tuberculosis prevention and control centers/hospitals to support patients undergoing home-based treatment

3) Home-based health monitoring for pregnant women and postpartum follow-up for maternal and infant recovery

4) Home-Based Disease Monitoring and Follow-Up for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

5) Postoperative home follow-up and consultation services for patients

6) Home-Based Medical, Nursing, and Rehabilitation Guidance for Children with Autism and Cerebral Palsy



Compared with traditional medical practice or hospital-centered disease diagnosis and treatment processes, the telemedicine model is gradually integrating modern telecommunication technologies and methods, standing out and developing toward the formation of a comprehensive disciplinary field of "Telemedicine" in the 21st century.



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