Hospital Robots Launched in Washington State

MultiCare Health Systems has deployed four Moxi robotic units at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington, as errand-runners, The Spokesman-Review reports. The “nurse robots” won’t interact with patients or go into their rooms but will do basic chores normally handled by nurses, from delivering lab samples and PPE supplies to picking up a patient’s medicine. Such tasks fill up about 45 to 75 min per shift and take away from patient care. With the robots doing the footwork, nurses will have more time to conduct health education with patients, along with care that uses critical-thinking skills and mentor and train other staff. Moxi talks in short phrases and has sensors that detect people and obstacles. Each model has a large drawer in the front and two drawers in the back. The robot has a camera, which doesn’t record, but helps the unit navigate, and allows the support team to see the robot’s view in real-time to troubleshoot. Moxi is able to press elevator buttons with its robotic arm and activate pads that open doors. Austin, Texas-based manufacturer Diligent Robotics designed Moxi specifically for hospitals. The company began distributing them in 2020 and now has more than 40 Moxi units in different U.S. hospitals. Reportedly, the robots at Deaconess are the first in the state and Pacific Northwest.