Economy
Related: About this forumRobot 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.
wcmagumba
(6,838 posts)appalachiablue
(44,273 posts)Will this become our primary physician in a few more years?
eppur_se_muova
(42,840 posts)appalachiablue
(44,273 posts)Lovie777
(24,253 posts)Jirel
(2,389 posts)In reality, this is very similar to some of the less public systems Ive 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 dont 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 someones job? Also probably yes, in some hospitals. Thats a problem. I dont 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)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)smaller items, meds paperwork, doctors orders, etc.
wcmagumba
(6,838 posts)Callie1979
(1,467 posts)several things they could do that make time for more important tasks to be done by the humans.