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appalachiablue

(44,273 posts)
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 06:42 PM 2 hrs ago

Robot Nurses Begin Working At Odessa Hospital in Texas ⛑


Robot Nurses, KCEN News, June 11, 2026. (2:07 mins). A Texas hospital has introduced robot assistants designed to deliver supplies and lab samples, helping nurses spend more time with patient care.
Meet Moxie, a 5 foot, 300 lb. service robot that is now employed at Odessa Regional Medical Center. It transports things like medicine and supplies throughout the entire hospital 24 hours a day.
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appalachiablue

(44,273 posts)
3. IK. Script mentions robot transports supplies, nada about direct work with patients but who knows.
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 06:52 PM
2 hrs ago

Will this become our primary physician in a few more years?

Jirel

(2,389 posts)
6. Meh. They just carry stuff.
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 07:13 PM
2 hrs ago

In reality, this is very similar to some of the less public systems I’ve seen in hospitals since the late 1980s. In the basement of one hospital, where there was a laundry, pharmacy, and other support departments, there was a pretty fast moving, hanging trolly system that whizzed around suspended from the ceiling. The units looked kind of like bookcases, and if one hit you, it could potentially kill someone frail or just if they got hit badly. As it was a “employees only” area, they just marked the track path on the floor and had lots of warning signs to not stray into the path, and the units had flashing lights, and they called it good. Some years later, I saw a more sophisticated system of smaller, lighter, cart-sized trolleys that were self propelled with more safety features, just following a colored line on the floor.

I don’t see these as being all that different, just more visible to the public. Presumably, they also are safer to have around people versus in the bowels of a large metropolitan hospital. Are they taking someone’s job? Also probably yes, in some hospitals. That’s a problem. I don’t think these are necessarily going to be cheaper than human labor, either, but of course CEOs just HAVE TO go for the latest dumb fad.

appalachiablue

(44,273 posts)
7. I wonder why 'service robots' are called 'nurses' & not hospital or medical supply assistants if they're only
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 07:24 PM
1 hr ago

intended to handle objects and not care for patients directly. And no degree of course.

Thanks for info about automated supply systems and transport in hospitals.

Ilsa

(64,705 posts)
9. I've seen pneumatic tubes used for transporting
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 08:04 PM
1 hr ago

smaller items, meds paperwork, doctors orders, etc.

wcmagumba

(6,838 posts)
10. The hospital IT dept I worked in some 20-30 years ago had those tubes, they were fun and worked well for small items...
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 08:46 PM
28 min ago

Callie1979

(1,467 posts)
8. Robots could easily be used to deliver drinks, supplies etc.
Tue Jun 16, 2026, 07:57 PM
1 hr ago

several things they could do that make time for more important tasks to be done by the humans.

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