Robots are defined as machines that are controlled by computers to perform tasks automatically, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The invention of robots has not only contributed to the industrial field but also to healthcare. With medical robotics, the capabilities of robots in healthcare have become broader. Nowadays, more and more robots are employed in hospitals to ease their services. Don’t be surprised if one day, you are greeted by those ‘talking machines’ instead of one of our own. However, there are challenges that come with adopting robots in healthcare.
One of the challenges of adopting robots in healthcare is emotional support and development. Human interactions are essential, and patients need emotional support when receiving care. While robots are capable of taking over almost all tasks as a caregiver, they are unable to provide human interaction, which is necessary for the development of human beings. Therefore, robots in healthcare cannot replace human interactions entirely, and there will always be a need for human caregivers to provide emotional support to patients.
Social acceptance is another significant challenge in using robots in healthcare. Using robots as a helper in public will indirectly advertise patients’ disabilities or diseases to the public. While some may not care, there will be some patients who are displeased with being the center of attention, thus causing them to refuse to continue using the robots. This calls for the manufacturers to use designs that make the medical robots fit for social acceptance. It is essential to ensure that the design of the robot is not intimidating, and it must be able to blend in with the environment it is placed in.
Privacy and security are also significant concerns when adopting robots in healthcare. The use of robots in healthcare involves a lot of data collection through surveillance cameras, sensors, and much more. The data collected, such as video and images as well as location, may be manipulated by hackers for various cybercrimes. It is crucial to ensure that the robots used in healthcare have strong security measures in place to protect sensitive information.
Power sources are also a challenge when it comes to adopting robots in healthcare. The main advantage of robots is that they can function and carry out repetitive tasks without exhaustion. However, the development of power sources for robots is lacking as they still depend on old ways of power generation and storage techniques. As a result, robots are inefficient in terms of energy consumption. Therefore, there is a need for the development of better power sources that can provide sufficient power for robots to operate for extended periods.
In conclusion, while the contribution of robots in healthcare is undeniably beneficial, the adoption of robots into any organization is a challenging process. A lot of consideration and research are required to provide efficient implementation and outcomes. The challenges discussed above, emotional support and development, social acceptance, privacy and security, and power sources, need to be addressed before adopting robots in healthcare. Despite these challenges, robots have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry and improve patient outcomes by reducing human errors, providing more accurate and efficient care, and freeing up healthcare professionals to focus on more complex tasks. Therefore, it is vital to address these challenges to ensure that the implementation of robots in healthcare is successful.
E-SPIN is dedicated to building a value-added ecosystem for its customers, suppliers, and business partners, with the belief that everyone can benefit from working together (Together Everyone Achieve More = TEAM). If you are a potential new supplier or business partner with value-adding solutions, or a new customer looking for trustworthy solutions, feel free to reach out. E-SPIN is always eager to explore ways to create synergistic outcomes for all parties involved. This is the underlying philosophy of E-SPIN business.
You may also be interested in other posts.
The post original published 2021-Sep-9, rewrite 2023-Feb-15.
