College of Nursing Unveils Robot Name
We have a winner! Following a social media and community contest, asking the public to help name the new Yorkton Health and Education robot, a winner was announced.
Carol Stringfellow, chose “Seymour” and when asked how she came up with the name she replied, “I chose the name because I thought it was applicable due to the fact that students from rural sites can actually ‘see more’ when they have the ability to visually connect with faculty at College of Nursing sites.” The winning name was selected by a panel of judges comprised of University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing and Yorkton community volunteers.
The College of Nursing together with Sunrise Health Region and Parkland College announced the winning name of the robot at an unveiling ceremony in Yorkton on November 27, 2015.
As a distributed site, Yorkton receives undergraduate nursing education delivered via Seymour the robot (Remote Presence technology) from faculty located at the College of Nursing site in Regina, enabling students to learn where they live.
Seymour the robot stands about five-and-half feet tall, with a flat-screen monitor mounted on top that displays the professor’s face. An embedded camera transmits images of students or patients back to the professor.
“By using Remote Presence technology, nursing students enrolled in our undergraduate programs at our distributed sites also have access to faculty and mentors and the opportunity to obtain a first-class education without leaving their communities,” said Lorna Butler, dean of the U of S College of Nursing.
“The robot is connected over broadband internet through local Wi-Fi service. It is accessed and operated remotely with a laptop and joystick, allowing a professor in Regina, Saskatoon or Prince Albert to move the robot around the room in Yorkton, for example,” explained Butler. “The technology allows faculty to engage with students at remote sites to teach and assess clinical competencies.”
This project is an extension of the partnership between the U of S, Parkland College and Sunrise Health Region.
“This cutting edge technology makes it easier for nursing students in a smaller city like Yorkton to access top quality education,” said Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit who was in attendance for the unveiling, “Remote presence technology is a great way to deliver health education and services in rural and remote communities.”
“Currently, the robot is used to enhance instructional courses at Parkland College through clinical labs held at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre,” said Suann Laurent, president and CEO for Sunrise Health Region.
“We are also excited to use the robot, in the near future, to improve area residents’ access to consultations with specialists located outside our region.” Learn more about of this technology here.