With an increasing number of nurses leaving the profession, and difficulty filling vacancies, automating activities such as medication delivery can help free overstretched nurses to focus on patient care.
Partnering with Israeli startup Seamless Vision, Sheba Medical Center has recently introduced an innovative approach to medication delivery. Using autonomous navigation technology, robots will rush medications directly from the hospital pharmacy to a patient’s bedside. The robots use walkways and elevators traveled by patients and staff throughout the day, and can even call an elevator to pick them up.
Besides an advanced navigation system, the new medication delivery robots stand out due to their sturdy build. It also offers a refrigerated compartment for drugs and batteries, providing six to eight hours of continuous use. If someone does try to tamper with the device, built-in alarms will hamper their efforts.
Currently, Sheba is piloting the technology in its oncology department, transporting chemotherapy medications from the pharmacy to the patients who need them. As the department spans two buildings on Sheba’s sprawling campus, efficient medication delivery can be challenging. Sheba’s goal is to eventually expand delivery to include other departments.
