MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — Carteret General Hospital has a new doctor on staff, but its not what you may think. It's a new piece of technology connecting patients with doctors across the state.

Riley, a remote control robot, allows staff members and patients almost immediate access to stroke experts at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. The robot has a two-way, live video chat and exchange of images which helps physicians diagnose strokes and quickly develop care plans.

The stroke coordinator at Carteret General Hospital, Brett Parkhurst, said time is of the essence when dealing with a stroke.

"If you come early enough, within three hours of onset of symptoms, we can help you. We can help you by giving you a medicine known as TPA. It's a clot busting drug, and its dissolves that clot that caused that stroke in the first place," said Parkhurst.

Parkhurst says strokes are the number one cause of disability within North Carolina. Some warning signs of a stroke include:
• Sudden numbness or weakness
• Sudden confusion or slurred speech
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Facial droop