Successful Virtual Inauguration Meeting DeinHaus 4.0 at BioPark

In Bavaria approximately 50,000 people suffer from a stroke each year. Up to 75 percent of those affected suffer from the consequences for the rest of their lives. The success of caregiving and rehabilitation measures is also dependent upon whether following an inpatient stay seamless care thereafter is able to be achieved, particularly in rural areas. The TePUS project by Prof. Dr. Karsten Weber, Institute for Social Research and Technology Assessment at the Regensburg OTH addresses the use of telepresent robots in the home. The goal is to test do-ability, acceptance and effect of needs-oriented technical assistant systems for the care of affected people. A central interest is whether telepresent robots can make a contribution. Healthcare Regensburg - managed by BioPark is a cooperation partner of the project funded by the State of Bavaria with more than 2.5 million Euro.

In her address Bavaria’s Health Minister Melanie Huml emphasized: “In rural areas the distances between the patients and medical and caregiving provision is mostly larger, so that the use of digital communication is more at hand.” Meanwhile the TePUS project has reached an important milestone: The assistant systems equipped with monitors now have the technically corresponding applications and can start the trial phase. Over a period of time of six months data is to be collected with around 100 patients on feasibility in practice as well as acceptance by users. The mobile assistant robots are to be used by means of a video function by all areas of treatment and for social contact. One of the assistance system models is able to move about autonomously and follow the patients using sensors within the home. Furthermore the robots can be combined with devices such as blood pressure monitors. “We expect that the devices could also be of great use for other patients”, said Prof. Dr. Karsten Weber.

The costs of medical care, rehabilitation and treatment of people following a stroke are estimated in Germany for the year 2025 at approximately 109 billion Euro. During acute treatment teletechnology has meanwhile huge relevance – throughout the country there are already 20 telemedicine networks in which a total of 200 neurological clinics are linked with each other – the use of telepresence robots in post-care is still a relatively new topic. “Digitalization in care of stroke has tradition in Regensburg. In acute care already in 2003 the comprehensive Telemedicine Stroke Network TEMPiS was initiated which in the meantime has 24 clinics. We are very pleased that with the TePUS digital care and rehabilitation measures will be used and evaluated at the location in the future,” commented Project Manager Healthcare Dr. Ilja Hagen from BioPark Regensburg.