In recent times, the healthcare industry is relying heavily on technological advancements, particularly through the use of robotics and artificial intelligence.
Robotics is making significant impacts on the healthcare industry, revolutionizing various aspects of patient care, medical procedures, and overall healthcare management.
Areas Robotics are Making Impacts on Healthcare Industry
Surgical Robotics
Robotic surgical systems, such as the da
Vinci Surgical System, have transformed the field of surgery. These systems
offer enhanced precision, dexterity, and visualization, allowing surgeons to
perform complex procedures with minimal invasiveness. Robotic surgery often
results in reduced pain, faster recovery times, and smaller incisions compared
to traditional open surgery.
Telepresence Robots
Telepresence robots enable healthcare professionals to remotely interact with patients, particularly in rural or underserved areas. These robots can be used for virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and follow-up care, extending the reach of medical expertise and improving access to healthcare services.
Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy
Robotic devices are
increasingly used in rehabilitation and physical therapy settings. These
devices assist patients in regaining mobility and strength after injuries or
surgeries. Robotic exoskeletons, for example, can provide support and guidance
during movement, helping patients with spinal cord injuries or stroke survivors
regain independence.
Elderly Care
Robots are being employed to assist in elderly
care, especially for individuals with mobility challenges or cognitive
impairments. Social robots can provide companionship, remind patients to take
medication and monitor their vital signs. These robots help alleviate
loneliness and enhance the overall quality of life for older adults.
Laboratory Automation
Robotics has streamlined laboratory
processes and improved efficiency in healthcare settings. Automated robotic
systems can handle repetitive tasks, such as sample preparation, pipetting, and
sorting, with precision and speed. This reduces the risk of human error,
increases throughput, and frees up laboratory staff to focus on more complex
tasks.
Medication Management
Robotic systems are used to automate
medication dispensing and management. These systems can accurately sort,
package, and dispense medications, reducing the risk of medication errors and
improving patient safety. Robotic pill dispensers and medication reminder
systems help patients adhere to their prescribed medication schedules.
Data Analysis and Healthcare Analytics
Robotics and
artificial intelligence (AI) technologies play a crucial role in analyzing vast
amounts of healthcare data. These technologies can identify patterns, predict
outcomes, and assist in medical decision-making. Robotic process automation
(RPA) is also employed to automate administrative tasks, such as data entry and
documentation, freeing up healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.
While robotics in healthcare offers numerous benefits, it is important to ensure appropriate regulation, ethical considerations, and maintaining the human touch in patient care. The integration of robotics should be done thoughtfully and with a focus on improving patient outcomes and overall healthcare delivery.
Robots Allow Physicians More Time with Patients
A common misconception out there is that robotic technology
and artificial intelligence will replace the healthcare labor force. This
simply is not true. The job of these technologies is to complement clinicians’
skill sets, reduce workload, and free up time for healthcare professionals to
carry out tasks and activities that will have a greater impact on patient care.
Instead of carrying out administrative or repetitive tasks, clinicians can
leave some of those responsibilities to robots, and focus on the aspect of
their job that matters most: caring for their patients.
On average, primary care physicians work 11.2 hours per day.
Nearly six of those work hours are spent interacting with electronic health
data and records. There simply is too much data for one person or even a team
of doctors to consume and analyze. With the help of robotic technology, and
more specifically, AI systems, machines can scan thousands of records and cases
in an instant, picking out correlations and patterns that can help treat
patients with stunning accuracy. In a profession where time is of the
essence, robots and AI can make amazing contributions with both speed and
accuracy, allowing for longer, and more dedicated one-on-one care for doctors
to have with their patients.
Covering Common Procedures
In most healthcare facilities, there are standard procedures
that must be administered regularly to patients. Drawing blood, checking blood
pressure, and administering shots are procedures that should be achieved
regularly and with the same attention to detail. For these tasks, robots could
prove to be quite an asset.
A recent study published by the journal Technology
revealed some pretty remarkable findings. In the study, a robot device was
successful at administering blood 87 percent of the time to the 31 participants
in the trial. In previous studies, healthcare professionals recorded only a 73
percent success rate of patients with visible veins, while the robot device was
successful 97 percent of the time. Utilizing robotic technology for these
practices would guarantee that they were performed properly each time and save
precious time for medical staff.
Improved Accuracy
In an industry where accuracy is critical and often the
difference between life and death, developing technology that boosts accuracy to the
next level is critical. In order to provide accurate diagnoses and treatments
for patients, all data collected must be accurate. With robotics,
administrative and recurring clinical duties, such as monitoring patient vitals
or inputting patient data, will be achieved with remarkable efficiency.
The precision found in these robotics is unmatched by the
human hand and potential errors that can happen. Take the Da Vinci surgical
robot for instance. This amazing device has completed well over 6 million
surgeries worldwide and equips surgeons with the ability to perform minimally
invasive surgery with astounding accuracy. In addition, studies have shown that
surgeries with this robot have resulted in far fewer complications following
operations. With the help of robotics, surgeons will benefit from these devices
greatly. By delivering small, precise incisions, robots provide immense value,
allowing surgeons to not worry about possible human errors such as fatigue or
lack of range of motion.
Implementation Across the Entire Healthcare Landscape
Globally, Robot technology in healthcare facilities has
ramped up because its, benefits are too good to ignore. Not only do they allow
for improved patient care, but they also impact cost savings and waste
reduction, to name a few perks.
Throughout the United States, Automated
Pharmacies that utilize robotic technologies are becoming extremely
popular. Robots can update records sent from the hospital, label, package,
store and fill prescriptions with ease and undeniable accuracy. Again, this
allows pharmacists to free up time to educate themselves on medications and
provide valuable insight and consultation for patients.
One of the rising trends in healthcare is telemedicine. With
a shortage of healthcare professionals and the unavailability of specialized
care in some remote locations, robotics provide a real solution to this issue. Complete
with full audio, video, and camera capabilities, these telerobots provide
timely communication, data tracking and enable clinicians the ability to
remotely log in and speak with a patient.
There’s no denying, robotics and AI technology are rapidly changing the healthcare industry. Because of the many benefits related to cost, accuracy, and accessibility, care facilities are catching on and adopting these remarkable assets into their everyday operation. From surgical assistant robots to machines who carry out non-patient facing tasks like stocking and cleaning, these technologies are improving healthcare by leaps and bounds.