Outpatients and inpatients need a befitting nursing care but the number of patients are more than the number of available nurses with a huge margin. This makes the nursing care not easily accessible to all patients especially the outpatient ones. The few nurses have to burn the midnight oil to ensure that all patients are taken care of, to their level best. Although the work is quite hectic, they are mandated to restore health using all possible means. Automated nursing care system has come in to make the nursing care process easy to access, control and monitor. The system uses robotic science to carry out all the necessary nursing care a patient may need. Here, we are going to learn how the system works hand in hand with nurses in helping patients to recover from their medical condition.
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| A doctor providing virtual diagnosis using robots |
The system depends on a programmed robot to conclusively discharge its functions. The robot is fitted with pressure sensors, temperature sensors, surveillance camera, water sensors and audio speakers. Moreover, the system has a database and microcontroller linked to the cellphones of nurses and doctors in-charge. This robot is an artificial nurse tasked with bridging the gap between nurses and patients. It reminds patients when to take their prescribed medication, take their meals and have their personal grooming. It also monitors the food uptake of the patient ensuring that recommended diet is taken. Pressure sensors are used to monitor systolic pressure of the patient. Blood pressure of a patient is continuously monitored to keep him or her safe from adverse effects of high blood pressure. Temperature of a patient also needs to be monitored regularly. To achieve this, the robot is fitted with temperature sensors that are highly sensitive to slight changes in body temperature. Surveillance cameras are fitted on the robot to capture everything happening within the ward. If by any chance a patient vomits, spills liquid substances or have short calls on the beddings and floor, water sensors will notice all these and send necessary signals to the relevant processors for further directions. Audio speakers are avenues for relaying relevant information to the patients. This robot is controlled remotely by cellphones and personal computers. Microcontroller links the robot to all the interfaced cellphones and personal computers. Database stores all the data relating to the patients in concern. It also contains all the programs used in running this system.
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| A healthcare robot reading a patient's file |
The system works by monitoring behaviour of patients through the help of robots. These robots assist in providing healthcare. A nurse or a doctor can measure the body temperature and systolic pressure of a patient remotely using his or her cellphone. The cellphone or personal computer has a user-interface that directs the robot on what to do via the embedded microcontroller. When the robot is directed to measure the body temperature and systolic pressure, it moves closer to the patient and draws its arm to take those measurements. Pressure sensors fitted on the arm, record pressure changes and send signals to the microcontroller for interpretation. At the same time, temperature sensors monitor temperature changes and convey the same signal to the microcontroller for interpretation. The microcontroller decodes those signals and display the systolic pressure and temperature of the patient on the personal computer or cellphone it is linked to. The displayed data is stored in the database for future reference. The system keeps health record of the patient in an organized manner. The robot can be instructed to remind the patient of medical prescription. The robot gets the prescribed drug from where they are kept and gives the patient. Any message to be conveyed to the patient is communicated via the audio speakers. Water sensors detect liquid traces within the ward and send signal to the microcontroller that processes instructions to be executed by the robot. For instance, if a patient vomits on the floor, the robot is directed to clean up the place using a rag. When beddings and clothes of a bed-ridden patient are wet, the robot can be directed to change them. This makes the patient comfortable. The doctor can assess the patient virtually using his or her captured images and videos. The robot plays important roles in virtual diagnosis.
Advantages of this system are as follows:
1. It is reliable. The robot is very reliable as it monitors patients virtually throughout their admission. It does not get tired when discharging its duties compared to nurses. Nurses at times get tired when attending to patients especially when they are very many in the ward.
2. It is very fast in discharging its duties. The robot performs its duties faster than human beings. Therefore, it can serve very many patients.
3. It is very accurate. The system ensures that prescribed drugs are taken in time and in the right dosage.
Disadvantages of this system are as follows:
1. It is very expensive. Purchasing the robot needs a lot of money. Installing the system for controlling and monitoring the robot also requires very expensive technical expertise.
2. The system depends on electricity to execute its functions. Power failures in hospitals where there is no backup power supply causes inconveniences and may lead to death as patients will lack medical attention.
This system has made healthcare very efficient, accurate and fast. Many patients can be attended to in a click of button by healthcare robots. Human intervention also takes part in directing the robot in discharging its duties. Although it is good, it cannot completely function without instructions and directions from doctors.
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