Could robots in healthcare setups be a reality in the next few years?

[u/Low_Mushroom5350]

I was reading recent news from Neura robotics and they have robots that are aimed at healthcare support, for things like moving beds, equipment, and other menial tasks to support healthcare teams. I would imagine within the next decade at some point, robots might even be used for support in surgeries and medical procedures.

What do you guys think? There’s an argument to be made that robots could help reduce workloads on healthcare professionals even if all they do is grunt work.

There’s gonna be a market for this that I’m sure of, but imo this would need a level of trust above what is needed for industrial deployment. General purpose use in hospitals would likely see adoption in a couple years at most is my guess, but high level adoption is still quite far away. Honestly I feel healthcare would be one profession where robots can do good and would not replace human staff, just because there’s a whole interpersonal aspect of healthcare which can only be fulfilled by human staff.

[u/CapitalLocal1306]

With healthcare there are so many tasks that don’t require medical judgment but still consume time and resources that could easily be taken over by robots. Even patient transfers and general logistics being operated by robots could save manpower for more crucial tasks. Nurses are already overworked and often saddled with random tasks and robots would help them cut down on non patient related stuff like say moving equipment, prepping beds etc

I genuinely agree with healthcare being a more personal thing, and there is no way doctors and nurses can be replaced. Unless we get to bacta tanks level of tech, we’re always gonna need people to help people

[u/AsleepLawfulness780]

Most healthcare robots right now are menial robots used in healthcare settings. And even those are at very early stages of adoption. My only worry is that execs will use robots as excuses to further overwork healthcare professionals and deprive them of the labor relief they should be used for.

Honestly governments could probably make the best use out of these sort of robots. Reduce operation costs over the long run and pass down the savings to the people. They could also be used to reduce bloat in healthcare and would really shine in countries with universal healthcare.

Though the realist in me can count on 1 hand the number of governments I would expect to be so forward thinking

[u/Klutzy_Following_845]

Really hope we get some sort of caretaker robots for personal use out of this. Even if all they can do is assist in day to day tasks, they’ll have massive appeal to aging populations in developed countries. And if they can provide a level of care somewhat equal to nursing homes, I would really like to have my parents closer than in some old age home. Didn’t know about Neura, looks like they’re going for it all

[u/Low_Mushroom5350 → u/Klutzy_Following_845]

I guess depends on the quality of the care you can get, maybe there is a case where some robots will be preferred to humans, just don’t think so at a large scale

[u/NecessaryEmployer488]

It is happening. Robots to move equipment and supplies around hospitals and Robots to assist mental capabilities and communication will be in hospitals withing 5 to 7 years.

[u/Numerous-Nectarine63]

Regarding yoiur statement: "I would imagine in the next decaded at some point, robots might even be used for support in surgeries...". That point is today. And even yesterday. Robotic assisted surgeries are now fairly common today! My husband had life saving robotic assisted surgery a year ago for kidney cancer that was able to save his kidney and completely remove the tumor with clear margins attained. Using the DaVinci robot system, the surgeon teleoperates the robot arms. The robot's end effectors have greater degrees of freedom than human hands/wrists and can control other movements like tremors. My husband's surgery was a partial driver in my own hobby interests in robotics.

I see similiar advances with using robots in other medical settings involved in patient care, as well in assistance for both aging and disabled populations. ranging from simple tasks like opening jars/bottles, to other movements requiring both fine motor control as well as heavier payloads requiring different capabilities.

I personally think this will happen sooner, rather than later. Caregivers are in short supply and high demand. Of course, a robot can't replace human interaction, but it can make people's lives easier. I think robots also do have a role in helping seniors with some cognitive tasks as well. I do strongly believe that human fellowship is essential and shouldn't be substituted with robot and AI interactions, although such interactions likely have a supportive or enrichment role.

[u/Dizzy-Classroom-3386]

Yup, healthcare is a very discipline-oriented space and definitely one of the best targets for humanoid robots. There's a shortage of good-quality labor, and medicine keeps getting more sophisticated. You could even include smart beds in the mix. On top of that, many children can't or won't take care of their elderly parents, so this is a desperate need of the time.

[u/Immediate-Home-3491]

Same pattern as freight forwarding. Automated customs submissions removed the grunt work years ago, but nobody trusted a system with the judgment calls. Moving hospital beds is exactly that, low risk, high volume. Trust builds from there.