By: steinmentz1

steinmentz1 — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:43:18 +0000

Robots can already be used for remote location surgery. Remember that spy drones over Afghanistan can be piloted from an office in Colorado or Arizona.

By: Joseph Calamia

Joseph Calamia — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:49:08 +0000

Thanks so much for your comment. It’s great to get your perspective–especially as a physician assistant. I hope that the hospital is really using the robots to give hospital staff more free time with the patients.

By: Old Rockin' Dave

Old Rockin' Dave — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:55:30 +0000

I worked twenty years in hospitals as a physician assistant and certainly understand the reasoning behind these robots but I do not think the technology is ready for prime time. During my two recent hospitalizations, I was reassured to see people deliver my meals and clean the floor. It was human contact when my family and friends could not be there. During the first one, the floor cleaner was so bright and cheery that I looked forward to his daily round. It also was possible to ask for help with small things I was not able to do for myself and couldn’t ring the nursing station for in good conscience. There also was reassurance in knowing that if I was in obvious distress and could not ring or did not get a response that these people would notice and get me help.
A robot delivering your meal or mopping up will not care how you feel today and will go about its business even if you are hemorrhaging, gasping for air or lying on the floor with a broken hip. Not today; maybe in ten or fifteen years.

Comments on: How to Make a Hospital Stay Even More Dehumanizing: Robot Workers

By: steinmentz1

By: Joseph Calamia

By: Old Rockin' Dave