When robots become nursing assistants

For example, at Changi General Hospital (CGH), a robot makes 16 rounds of medication delivery per day, saving nurses up to two hours a day and freeing them up more time for patients.

Another robot is tasked with guiding patients to different areas of the emergency department, helping to reduce the workload for nurses in this area.

The third robot operates in the waiting area, providing patients with essential items such as blankets, allowing staff to focus more on assisting patients with administrative procedures.

A robot assists patients at Changi General Hospital in Singapore. (Photo: Changi General Hospital)

According to Channel NewsAsia (Singapore) on July 18, these robots are part of a trial by CGH that will last until August. The hospital is considering deploying robots to perform more tasks in more departments and wards.

Meanwhile, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has put into operation a smart medical examination and treatment area, applying several devices to make work more efficient. For example, a voice-activated device helps doctors and nurses quickly update each other on information without using their phones.

Nurses simply say the name of the doctor they want to find, and the device will connect them. Additionally, the device is equipped with a camera to scan items such as medications or bandages, allowing doctors to quickly assess the situation and decide what to do next with the patient.

This device is one of 20 technologies tested at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (TTSH) since 2022. Another notable technology is a self-turning bed that allows patients to turn over with just the push of a button, applicable to bedridden patients who need assistance turning over every two hours to prevent pressure sores, saving nurses a lot of effort.

A patient monitoring system has also been installed in all single-bed and isolation areas, which notifies nurses immediately when a patient intends to leave their bed.

Keefe Tan, who heads the smart healthcare facility, said the hospital wants to use technology and artificial intelligence to help improve the quality of patient care. This is especially necessary given the increasing workload and challenges faced by healthcare workers.

TTSH plans to replicate 14 initiatives across other departments and test 20 more over the next two years, noting that new technologies need time to adapt.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/khi-robot-lam-tro-ly-dieu-duong-20230718215029782.htm