Officials from the University of Saskatchewan and Northlands College were in Air Ronge this morning to demonstrate some new equipment.
The Remote Presence technology will allow nursing students to interact with instructors and mentors in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
The Associate Dean at the university’s College of Nursing is Lois Berry.
Berry says the first phase to be introduced this fall will involve teaching, but there will be other applications in the future:
“The robot can also go into patient rooms with students, and figure out what they’re seeing, and help them understand what is going on with a patient.”
The robot is controlled by people in the south and has a video and audio link — but also patient assessment tools.
Berry says, with the help of the northern health regions, they will ensure patients in the north are comfortable with the technology.
She says plans are also in the works to introduce smaller portable units at nursing stations in remote communities.