Something New Under the Singaporean Sun
Friends, we’ve got news brightening up our cloudy island and it’s three times as exciting.
A trio of autonomous mobile robots, each with a task that once rested solely on human shoulders, has been introduced in the bustling Emergency Department (ED) of Changi General Hospital (CGH) on 14th July 2023.
These aren’t your common household robots, these are MEDi, EDi, and BLANKi, known for carrying medicine, guiding folks around, and providing warmth, literally!
Can you imagine? A robot handing out blankets downtown at Changi General!
Meet the Trio: MEDi, EDi, and BLANKi
Aiming to crack the pinata of current healthcare efficiency, this three-bot band has been working tirelessly to lessen the burden on human healthcare teams and improve the patient experience.
Deployed in the Emergency Department, they perform several tasks such as the delivery of medication and blankets, and even act as wayfaring aids by guiding patients and their families around!
Like diligent bees in a hive, each has a role to play.
They glide gracefully amidst the hospital crowd, never bumping into anyone or anything, thanks to their advanced sensors.
In the words of Ms Choong Pei Wah, CGH ED Assistant Director, “The trial deployment of the three robots in the ED complements nursing care in an innovative and interactive way.”
Pat on the Robot Backs: Saving Time and Effort
The celestial trio has been of cosmic assistance to the busy beehive that is the ED at Changi General.
EDi, short for Emergency Department innovation, has mastered the art of navigation.
It jovially guides folks to their destinations, managing to save the ED’s human team almost four minutes per trip.
Meanwhile, MEDi, bearing soothing medicines, accomplishes 16 trips a day!
Now that’s a figure even the fastest messenger pigeon would envy!
Not to be left out, our cuddly BLANKi, bearing warm blankets, has lightened the load of the service ambassadors by a whopping 50%!
What a feat, eh?
Practical Takeaways
- Embrace technology as the future of healthcare. The CGH is setting an example, and others are sure to follow suit.
- Be open to utilising technology in medicine. Robots like MEDi, EDi, and BLANKi are here to assist and make the healthcare experience smoother for everyone.
- Keep an open mind. Remember all innovation starts as a crazy idea, as perhaps once were our three robot friends.
Parting Thoughts
To those curious cats thinking where this boat of robotic healthcare innovations is sailing, here’s what Ms. Choong had to say, “we have seen promising results from the trial… underscoring the importance of embracing technological solutions for sustainable healthcare.”
So, next time you chance upon our robotic friends, pause, and take a moment to appreciate the technological advancements playing out right in front of your eyes.
As we bid a fond farewell to our trio, I leave you with a question: How do you think technological innovation will transform the landscape of healthcare in Singapore?
