Robotics in Medicine
Updated: Jan 26, 2022
How can robotics benefit a surgeon?
From our research in robotics, implementation in the market has increased steadily throughout the years. In 2012, only 1.8 percent of surgeries in the United States used robotics. The next measurement of impact was taken in 2018, the results confirm that robotics are making an impression on surgeons and hospital administrators. Fifteen percent of all surgeries used robotics in 2018. That equates to a 2.21 percent growth in robotics usage intraoperatively annually. Impressive, indeed!
Robotics in Surgery
The idea isn’t to replace the surgeon with robotics, humans have the power of empathy in decision making that cannot be replaced. The practical use for robotics will be applicable in every surgery in the future. The primary function, exact measurements intraoperatively. Geometry and physics are a powerful tool in ensure proper placements of devices and influential in the healing process involved with post operation care. Surgeons can be confident in measuring angles intraoperatively with robotics. This removes checkmarks that a surgeon focuses on during surgery and allows a surgeon to strategizing with confidence in the operating room. The preciseness of intra operative robotics allows new techniques for less invasive surgeries that will limit exposure to our patients.
Important steps need to be taken within the hospital when introducing robotics. Regulators and surgeons need ensure that the patient’s safety always come first, and their care does not suffer because of the enthusiasm of the new technology. Currently, the Intuitive da Vinci surgical robot is the standard for general surgery. While the price tag of robotics can provide sticker shock and constantly ordering disposables is “as fun as it sounds.”, robotics is the big picture answer. There are 53,873 surgeons in the United States, that individually pay around $40,000 each year for medical malpractice insurance. Pressure ulcers alone cost 11.6 billion dollars annually in healthcare. That is an average $151,700 per ulcer. If we eliminate cross contamination and minimize trauma on surgical sites during intraoperative surgeries, we can reduce the costs mentioned above. The cost of acquiring robotics will be an afterthought, compared to the money it saves in continued care. Published data shows that the success rate of robotics ranges from 94% to 100%. Micrometers matter when pain, recovery, and quality of life are the most valued output!
How many new surgical applications will the robot be used in this year?
Robotics in Ambulatory Care
If you have been involved in the medical care field, you understand the importance of mobile and virtual medicine. Our talented medical staff need to be in the hospital expressing their craft and doing what they do best, saving lives. Robotics can be the inertia to the pendulum of ambulatory care. We think rural communities will benefit the most from this new robotics revolution because of human availability.
What are the possibilities of robotics in ambulatory care?
Image an ambulance that uses GPS to drive itself to a 911 call. Self-driving cars are currently on the market in the public sector, is public health next? Image having a robotic surgical room, in an ambulance for on-site care. Imagine medical students gaining knowledge on a mobile surgical ambulance, while earning credits for their degree.
Think of the inventions the students would create with this priceless experience. They could assist with injections, minimally invasive surgery, and manual applications with the robot’s assistance. Real life situations would highlight who can perform under pressure, which is a noble feature for any nurse, doctor, or surgeon. Can you foresee a robotic ambulance at your local hospital?
Robotics Ideas within the Hospital
Is the device in Becky’s desk? Is the device sterilized? What, we didn’t reorder the disposable part of device? Do you hear these statements in the operating room? I have found the holy grail to these common terms being spoken on floors. Each year the United States healthcare system spends $28.4 billion in HAI’s (healthcare associated infections). Infections, faulty medical devices, improper placement of medical devices, and failure to account/maintain medical equipment are the most common medical errors in the industry.
What are the possibilities of Robotics in other departments within the Hospital?
There is a myriad of reasons to incorporate robots within hospital systems. Robots can eliminate cross contamination when replacing bedding, transporting medical devices within the facility, cleaning of facilities, and correctly sterilize devices in the Sterilization Processing Department.
With the recent ruling on bar codes for all medical devices within the hospital. It is clear robots can be a game-changer in processes within hospitals organizations. The robot will be able to calculate real time inventory of devices, medicines, and staffing within the given facility. It will allow hospital administration to set and manipulate desired inventory numbers on site and in real time. The robot will be able to order new supplies when inventory hits a strategically selected numerical value. This advancement will allow hospital administration to claim Bill James status (Moneyball). Think of hospital administration talking constantly about algorithms that work best in different market conditions based on real time robot data.
The final “nail in the coffin” when considering if robotics is the future. The robot will absorb menial tasks that staff are required to perform as part of their job description. Think of all the additional time staff will have to focus on personal health, improving their craft, or allow room for creativity. The pure optics of a robot driven business will be the best recruiting to for young and brilliant minds. The best minds prefer the best technology available. The adaptation of robots will allow humans to be pandemic prepared.
How can we increase the use of robotics in the United States to achieve 100 percent success rate in robotics-based surgery? Education, presentation, and compilations can provide world-class patient outcomes. How many industries will robotics positively affect? After we answer that, the next question is:
How can we provide robotics in less developed countries?
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
Thank you for reading! Feel free to reach out if you are interest in more concrete answers of what further steps can be taken. Feel free to reach out to discuss ideas or if you have suggestion.
Sincerely,
Adam Grzyb
ASG Logics LLC
314-704-7961
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