Mobile hospital robots cure numerous logistic needs

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show how mobile robots are addressing a variety of hospital logistic needs.Design/methodology/approach: The paper includes in‐depth interviews with developers of the Aethon hospital mobile robot logistics system.Findings: Robotics can greatly improve hospital logistic services such as moving food, lab samples, prescriptions and even add a bit of entertainment in the process.Practical implications: Hospital administrators have new answers to the old challenges of moving items in a timely and cost‐effective manner around their facility.Originality/value: Hospitals are first implementers of mobile robotics to look for answers to their logistic problems. They do not have to break new ground for themselves.