{
  "id": 271335,
  "title": "A hands-on approach to distance medicine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/a-hands-on-approach-to-distance-medicine",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-07T15:40:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-approach-distance-medicine.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr. Pijuan Yu, a researcher at Texas A&M University, is developing a new approach to distance medicine that goes beyond traditional telemedicine. Instead of relying solely on video calls, Yu and his collaborators are incorporating haptic technologies, which use sensors and actuators to simulate the sense of touch. This allows caregivers to perform palpation exams on patients remotely and transmit both video and haptic data to physicians for interpretation. The goal is to enhance the doctor's assessment by providing them with a near-real-time sense of the exam being performed, enabling more accurate diagnoses. The technology is being tested using a sensing glove worn by nurses in rural clinics, which collects data on their palpation techniques. This data is then transmitted to physicians at medical centers, such as Houston Methodist Hospital, who view the video and haptic display simultaneously. The haptic display acts as a tiny robot, replicating the pressure and sensations captured by the glove, creating an immersive experience that makes the physician feel as though they are performing the exam themselves. Researchers believe that this innovative approach could revolutionize telemedicine, allowing medical professionals to provide more comprehensive care to patients in remote or underserved areas.",
  "summary": "Dr. Pijuan Yu sits at his lab station, focused on the task at hand. He is feeling for a lump. The glass wall to his right reveals other students and researchers as they pass, but his attention remains steady. Two rubbery samples simulating human neck tissue lie on a smooth black tabletop. A dark cloth covers the first, preventing Yu from seeing clues in the material.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}