HOW ROBTOS CAN CREATE A WORLD OF ABUNDANCE IN HEALTHCARE
Many laughed when Bill Gates speculated that there would be a personal computer in every home. Craig McCaw was believed insane when he predicted a mobile phone in every hand. And now Elon Musk believes robots stand to bring a world of abundance to healthcare, putting us at the dawn of a much bigger course. Do we dare to hold a different view? Here are some ways robots are contributing to our industry:
Nursing Robots- These robots can autonomously monitor patients’ vitals, and physically help with lifting and transferring patients. On this trajectory, robots will replace many of the mundane tasks presently performed by nurses.
AI doctors and coaches- AI coaches in virtual reality fitness games for example can gamify the recovery process of patients with physical conditions. As AI advances, robots will also bring more precision in screening and diagnosing patients.
Robotic companions- As social engagement platforms, these robot buddies can help with medication reminders, play cards, express empathy and perform some basic household tasks. Robots have demonstrated that they can easily step in as emotional support for the elderly or patients during recovery, and ensure better outcomes.
Sanitation robots- Deep cleaning by robots can materially decrease the rate of hospital infections. Today many of these robots are the first choice for sanitizing healthcare centers across the U.S.
Exoskeletrons- Patients requiring intensive physical therapy can benefit from using robotics to train their bodies how to move properly again. Some may even be able to help the disabled regain mobility.
Microbots- We are seeing amazing results from tiny robots as small as a human cells that can be released into the body to perform tasks typically done through surgery today. Some scientists believe that microbots have the potential to even replace select pharmaceuticals.
The auto and warehousing sectors have provided the best staging ground for the usefulness of robotic technologies today. Now in healthcare, robots stand to address our most daunting challenges and help reshape our industry. We might as well welcome them to the ranks of their human colleagues!
