Robots are taking another step closer to patients in the country’s hospitals. A new technology enables robots to perform blood tests by inserting the needle into the patient’s skin. This breakthrough in healthcare is a result of years of research and development in robot technology. At Odense University Hospital (OUH), the first steps towards implementing robots in clinical procedures have been taken, with final approval expected in 2025. The robots are equipped with advanced cameras that can identify blood vessels and precisely locate the optimal spot for a blood test.
The project is expected to not only free up staff resources but also increase access to blood tests in hospitals, even up to 10 p.m. Alongside the implementation of robots for blood sampling, OUH has also introduced another robot that dispenses medical equipment. This has allowed patients to collect equipment late in the evening from a box serviced by a robot that automatically replenishes the supplies.
Robot technology is not limited to blood tests but has also proven useful in other areas of healthcare. For example, a robot in Svendborg scans for arthritis in the wrist and has significantly reduced patient waiting times. However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as finances and a shortage of personnel to implement more robot solutions.
According to health economist Kjeld Møller Pedersen from the University of Southern Denmark (Syddansk Universitet), robots are an inevitable development as the healthcare sector is largely lacking in staff. The next step in robot technology could be a micro camera swallowed in a pill that can examine patients’ internal organs for cancer. This could replace the current endoscope examination in the rectum.