Skip to content

Nursing Shortages: Helper Robots are Being Deployed

DMOOSE

Nursing Shortages: Helper Robots are Being Deployed
Table Of Contents
/g>

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is turning to helper robots to relieve the burden on hospital staff, as the country's healthcare sector faces a vacancy rate of almost 10% and historic strikes. Joe Harrison, CEO of Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says that pharmacy technicians and runners at his hospital take around 30,000 steps a day within the facility, hence the need for a helper bot to take care of tasks like medicine delivery.

The Milton

The British firm behind the robot, the Academy of Robotics, says its self-driving technology was designed specifically for hospital use, with LiDAR and sonar tech used to help the penguin-looking "Milton" deliver medicine along specific routes. The trials for this feature are expected to begin this year, with feedback from the trial to decide whether to scale up across the NHS and introduce it to other hospitals around the country by 2023.

The CEO of the Academy of Robotics, William Sachiti, says robots like “Milton” will save time and cost for human staff, as one of the biggest problems in hospitals is "To-Take-Out (TTO)," where patients have been discharged but are waiting for their medicine.

Sometimes, it can be a 15-minute walk to get the medicine, with 30 patients waiting simultaneously. Sachiti believes robots like "Milton" can help safely deliver while humans focus on patients.

Hospitals worldwide are exploring using robot assistants to address the global issue of short staffing in the healthcare sector.

The Moxi

At Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Chicago, two 5-foot-tall robots named "Moxi" have been running errands since June 2022. Equipped with a digital screen on the chest and an ID badge to open doors implanted in the robotic arm, they can do as much work as six human staff members.

According to the hospital, the two robots have made 1,800 deliveries each month, traveling nearly 1,600 km and saving hospital staff over 2 million steps. The developer, Texas-based company Diligent Robotics, says more hospitals across the country are waiting to test "Moxi."

The Aeo

In East Asia, Aeolus Robotics’s “Aeo” has been helping relieve the burden of nurses and runners at hospitals in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The robot can drive up to 1 m/s and lift to 4 kg with one of its robotic arms, and with its newly-launched features, including an infrared camera, it can operate in full darkness.

The CEO of Aeolus Robotics, Dan Haddick, believes this will allow "Aeo" to take a load off of night shift staff, as it can go check on residents, make deliveries overnight, and work all night in the dark.

The Aim

It is important to note that the robotics companies and the hospitals testing the robots all agree that these robots are not meant to replace human staff. Diane Butts, Clinical Manager of surgical oncology at Elmhurst Memorial, says that robots are not relied upon to interact with patients and that this is still the privilege and honor of human staff.

Sachiti says that robots are there to be tools to help people do their jobs and that the best machines should be there when needed and out of the way when not.

The deployment of helper robots in hospitals worldwide aims to address the issue of short staffing in the healthcare sector and relieve the burden on overworked hospital staff. The robots are designed to take care of tasks like medicine delivery and running errands, saving time and costs for human staff and allowing them to focus on patients.

Healthier and Happier Life is One Step Away.

Get information on health, fitness and wellness with our weekly newsletter.

Write a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Comment are moderated
  • 6 Expert-Recommend Ways to Think Positive & Embrace Self-Love in 2023
    6 Expert-Recommend Ways to Think Positive & Embrace Self-Love in 2023

    It's no secret that thoughts and feelings of negativity and self-loathing plague many of us. It can be easy to fal...

  • Hydration is Linked to a Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases & Dying Early, According to a Recent Study
    Hydration is Linked to a Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases & Dying Early, According to a Recent Study

    Are you looking for a simple, easy way to keep your body healthy and slow aging? If so, it turns out that one of t...

  • Crab Nutrition: A Guide to Its Nutrition Facts & Benefits
    Crab Nutrition: A Guide to Its Nutrition Facts & Benefits

    Crab, a staple food in some regions and a delicacy in others, is among some of the most popular seafood in the wor...

  • Micronutrients: What are They and Why Do They Matter?
    Micronutrients: What are They and Why Do They Matter?

    Knowing what food or nutrients your body needs may help you choose the right food, ensuring your physical well-bei...

  • Tips for Stronger & Defined Legs
    Tips for Stronger & Defined Legs

    If you want your legs to be more defined, you need to do up to 5 ...

  • 4 Neck Strengthening Exercises for Boxers and Athletes
    4 Neck Strengthening Exercises for Boxers and Athletes

    Do you feel that years of exercise and strength training have got you looking somewhat disproportionate? Do you fe...

  • How to lose belly fat naturally and safely?
    How to lose belly fat naturally and safely?

    Do you feel embarrassed because of belly fat? You have to feel embarrassed because...

  • Quick Weight Loss Tips You Should Try
    Quick Weight Loss Tips You Should Try

    Are you searching for weight loss tips? How do you find reliable weight loss tips?...

  • A Pinch of Less Salt on the Food Can Have Life-saving Benefits, Who Report
    A Pinch of Less Salt on the Food Can Have Life-saving Benefits, Who Report

    Excessive sodium intake has become a major global public health issue, contributing to heart disease, stroke, and ...

  • The Hot Girl Walk: A Trending Fitness Sensation Taking Over Tiktok
    The Hot Girl Walk: A Trending Fitness Sensation Taking Over Tiktok

    It's 2023, and a new TikTok fitness trend is taking the world by storm: the Hot Girl Walk.

    Created by Mia L...

  • Start your fitness journey today!

    Take an extra 10% off your order.

    reach out

    Toll Free: (833) 366-6733

    support@dmoose.com

    5700 Crooks Road, Troy, Michigan 48098

    *By submitting this form you are signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time.

    Only in the DMoose App.

    Get exclusive access, member rewards, and more.

    Open