New technology changes nature of doctor's house calls

<p>A new technology on Long Island can allow a patient to get diagnosed by a doctor - without ever leaving their home.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

May 3, 2017, 6:15 PM

Updated 2,710 days ago

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New technology changes nature of doctor's house calls
 A new technology is allowing doctors to make house calls without actually leaving their office. 
The Medpod MobileDoc, which looks like a carry-on luggage bag, is equipped with all a doctor needs to remotely treat patients from the comfort of their home. Along with the help of a registered nurse, the mobile unit allows doctors to check vitals and perform basic exams and specialty testing. 
Inventor Jack Tawil told News 12 that the idea was to take a whole medical office and put it into a bag that can be brought anywhere. 
Dr. James Powell, of Long Island Select Health Care, says the accessibility of the MobileDoc is "unbelievable." 
"I was in the parking lot using Wi-Fi and doing sessions in my Honda Pilot," says Dr. Powell.
Patient Peter Faulk has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. He says he likes the convenience of a modern-day house call. 
"Going to a doctor these days is very frustrating, but having the thing come here and seeing the doc on the screen, I like that," he says. 
The Medpod MobileDoc took about a decade to come to fruition and was officially launched last month.