Two Massachusetts, US-based companies partner to develop AI-powered ICU robot

Provider of telehealth services VSee Health and developer of robots for the workplace Ava Robotics — both from Massachusetts, United States — announced an agreement to develop telepresence solutions for the inpatient intensive care market, including the development of a VSee-powered Ava robot that allows providers to extend their reach and provide personalized care remotely.

How will it work?

The Ava Robot will be autonomous in the hospital intensive care unit (ICU), enabling skilled physicians to have a physical presence at the point of patient care, interact with patients, consult with onsite staff and make treatment decisions, all in real time.

Powered by VSee software, the robot is intended to expand the reach of telehealth solutions beyond the largest hospitals in major metropolitan areas and make telehealth accessible to regional hospitals and smaller ICUs.

On the record

"Telehealth is among the most innovative advancement in medicine in the 21st century. Our goal under this new agreement with Ava Robotics is to make the best critical care in the world available to every ICU in the country," said Imo Aisiku, M.D., co-CEO and Chairman of VSee Health. "We have the best-trained physicians in the world, and by integrating with Ava's robotics we will be able to extend their reach and expertise to patients throughout the United States."

"Not only will patients receive the best expertise available and better care, regardless of location, but hospitals will be able to deliver a new, heightened level of care, reducing transfers and costs associated with critical care and stroke," he added. "With the first commercial product launched in June, the Ava Robot is expected to be able to improve tele-stroke operations, and additional uses will be identified in the medical field as use of the Robot expands."

The context

With deep technical heritage from iRobot, Ava Robotics is a robotics technology company that designs and builds intelligent robots for the workplace. Ava's technology emphasizes user experience, safety and autonomous mobility to empower people, while advancing business operations and access.

On the other hand, VSee Health has developed a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that enables clinicians and enterprises to create their telehealth workflows without programming. VSee Health's system allows a telehealth mobile app to be created or a telehealth system to be integrated into existing hospital operations in days.