HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY BY MEGAN ANGUS AND ROBYN MUNRO
ROBOTS FOR HIRE
As health care facilities have expanded their floor plates due to a shift towards a higher ratio of single-patient rooms, they are also grappling with tight operating budgets and a high focus on infection control. Together, these factors create a challenge for hospitals to deliver materials throughout the facility in an efficient and time-sensitive manner.
A
utomated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) can help br idge this gap. AGVs are automated transport systems that autonomously navigate busy back-of-house spaces that are shared with staff, such as corridors and departments. The systems are highly sophisticated and are capable of activating and navigating automatic doors and elevators. AGVs are currently being used for a range of tasks in hospitals, including the pick-up and delivery of meals, waste, linens, supplies and medications. AGVs have become more common in
In hospitals, a large number of users from often siloed departments must interact with the system. healthcare capital projects with hospitals recognizing the value these systems can bring in terms of productivity, safety, reliability and efficiency. DESIGNING A SUCCESSFUL AGV SYSTEM
The design of an AGV system is unique to each project and is dependent on
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the hospital’s overall business objectives and operational goals. Some of these include improved supply management for clinical services, timely medication and food delivery, and efficiency in the overall supply management processes. It is critical that these goals and operational assumptions align with the AGV and
