Hospital Logistics Software and World Class Robotics: A Perfect Combination

The Use of Medical Robots in Hospitals

The use of medical robots in hospitals is expanding as leaders continue to recognize their value in adding robotic precision and efficiency to the automation of a variety of processes throughout the hospital.

Global investment in medical robotics is growing. The market reached an estimated $25.56 billion in 2023 according to a report from Grandview Research. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.55% between 2024 and 2030.

How Are Hospital Robots Being Used?

As confidence in the performance and reliability of robots in hospitals grows, they are being used in a broadening range of areas throughout the hospital, including the following:

Surgery

As the general population ages and experiences health conditions and issues, the need to serve more patients more efficiently has further propelled the use of robots in operating rooms. Surgeries for cancer, orthopedic conditions, and neurological diseases are areas where robots are increasingly being used under the guidance of the medical team.

Patient Care Support

Robots using AI technologies are being deployed to augment nursing care by helping mobilize patients as well as guide them in exercises and in other tasks during their hospital stay.

Medication Dispensation

Robots are being programmed to store and deliver medications to patients throughout hospital wards. This is helping to take some of the burden off the clinical staff, enabling them to provide more high-value care to patients.

Another area where robots are adding value is in hospital pharmacies. Pharmacy automation is a growing market segment. A recent report published by Allied Market Research estimates that the global pharmacy automation system market is projected to grow to $11.21 billion by 2030. Leading the growth is the hospital pharmacy market (PharmWeb).

Part of this growth can be found in the increasing number of hospitals that are updating and automating their pharmacies by implementing robot technology to work with their logistics software. This includes automated hospital pharmacies, a market segment that is also experiencing growth.

Pharmacy dispensing robots are poised to revolutionize medications management by increasing accuracy and streamlining the dispensing process. This reduces the likelihood of human error while giving pharmacists more time to focus on higher-value work that more directly impacts patient care.

How Do Robots Add Value to Pharmacy Logistics Systems?

Hospital pharmacy logistics platforms come in various configurations and sizes. Most, however, can benefit from the addition of robotics. Robots add value by replacing human interaction by performing functions including:

• Sorting and storing medications
• Accurately picking the right medications to meet each prescription
• Packaging each medication dose
• Delivering the medications into the hands of the pharmacy staff
• Tracking and reporting deliveries
• Inventory tracking and management
  
  

Studies referenced by the National Institute of Health have found the robotics used in pharmacies significantly reduce instances of medication errors.

Pairing pharmacy logistics software with best-of-breed robotics brings additional benefits.

While robots are adding value by helping to streamline a hospital’s medication storage and distribution process, they are often purchased separately. That means the robotics software must be programmed to work with the hospital’s logistics software. The process of integrating robotics with a hospital pharmacy platform takes time and effort from their development team. Systems must often be shut down while the work is being conducted. Any disruption to the pharmacy workflow can quickly have a negative impact on the medications distribution and dispensation process.

Hospitals can benefit from suppliers who have already done all the hard work for them by:

• Performing the research and vetting suppliers upfront to identify and select the best-of-breed robotics technology
• Integrating and testing the performance of robotics with their logistics software
• Packaging the solutions together as an integrated solution

Hospital leaders who are considering investing in pharmacy logistics software with robotics should be aware of the major benefits that come from working with a packaged solution from trusted suppliers:

• Significant time savings. Hospital management doesn’t need to source each component individually, avoiding the need to cross-reference vendor requirements.
• Seamless integration. No internal development resources are needed to create interfaces.
• Tested for performance. No lengthy beta testing period is needed.
• Not locked into one brand. This assumes the vendor provides open, agnostic interfaces that can be used to connect to additional systems downstream.
• Best-of-Breed Total Solution. Hospitals are gaining the best of both worlds with a top-quality packaged solution from a vendor who has chosen high-quality components, and all issues have been addressed upfront and tested.
  
  

Robotics will continue to add significant value to hospital pharmacies in the form of greater accuracy, faster delivery, and more efficient handling of medications. Hospitals interested in implementing robotics with their pharmacy logistics systems should evaluate vendors carefully and consider the added value of partnering with a provider who has already done the work of integrating high-quality robotics with their pharmacy software. Doing so will help ensure a perfect fit that not only optimizes pharmacy performance but helps drive greater efficiency and quality throughout the hospital.