RoboNurse
They don’t bring mental problems to work. They don’t have to take off for their kids. They don’t expect time-and-a-half for extra work and they’re always polite:
Bond bears a passing resemblance to a headless Rosie, the Jetsons’ robot maid…And it (he?) speaks in the mellifluous tones of HAL, the rogue computer in 2001.
This robot is no sci-fi character, though. Bond is one of three TUGs (named for what they do — tugging carts and other things) that are employed by the Washington Hospital Center pharmacy here. They can work 24/7, ferrying drugs throughout the hospital without a human tagging along.
Besides drugs, these robots can transport medical equipment, blood samples, meal trays, linens and other supplies.
Full USA Today article (check out their video of the robots in action).
Sounds great. Where can I buy one?
Seems almost too good to be true.
I need a RoboMaid.
I used to work in a hospital that had robotic pharmacy carts. They were filled and locked at the central pharmacy. The carts would then be dispatched to navigate the halls (only riding up in an elevator if it was empty) and arrive at the predetermined hospital floor. The floor manager would unlock the cart and verify the drugs listed were present. Nurses could then dispense drugs to the patients as ordered.
Sign me up for a Robo Nurse.
I’m sooo…interested….tell me more.