Robots Bring Comfort to Children in Hospitals Across the US

Health facilities in the United States are increasingly integrating robots into patient care, particularly for children and the elderly. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent, its role in hospitals is evolving. At the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center in Massachusetts, a therapeutic robot named Robin is making a significant impact by providing emotional support to young patients.

Robin stands at 1.2 metres tall and features a sleek, white, triangular design intended to foster a sense of comfort. During a recent interaction, Robin greeted a six-year-old boy named Luca, who is undergoing treatment for leukaemia, by saying, “Luca, how are you? It’s been a while.” This interaction exemplifies the robot’s ability to engage with children in a relatable manner, as it is programmed to act and sound like a 7-year-old girl. According to Karén Khachikyan, chief executive of Expper Technologies, the primary goal of Robin is to comfort young patients during their hospital stays while providing engagement and entertainment.

When Luca required an intravenous (IV) line, child life specialist Micaela Cotas introduced Robin to his hospital room. Cotas explained the procedure to Luca while Robin played a cartoon that depicted itself undergoing a similar process. “It helps [to] show that Robin has gone through those procedures as well, just like a peer,” Cotas noted, highlighting how the robot can normalize medical experiences for children.

Expanding Presence in Healthcare

Since its introduction in 2020, Robin has become a familiar sight in healthcare settings. It currently operates in around 30 facilities across states including California, Massachusetts, New York, and Indiana. The robot has also been adapted for elderly care, functioning as a companion in nursing homes. In this context, Robin engages residents by playing memory games with individuals living with dementia and guiding them through breathing exercises.

Khachikyan shared a notable instance from last year, describing how Robin successfully calmed a woman experiencing a panic attack in a Los Angeles care facility by playing Elvis Presley songs and showing videos of puppies, which brought her comfort.

While Robin is powered by AI, it is not yet fully autonomous. Most operations are managed by remote operators under the supervision of clinical staff. Currently, the robot can perform about 30 percent of its tasks independently and is continuously gathering data from its interactions with patients. This data collection adheres to US health privacy laws, assisting developers in advancing Robin’s capabilities.

Addressing Workforce Challenges

Expper Technologies emphasizes that the robot is not meant to replace healthcare staff but to enhance their capabilities and ease workforce shortages. Staffing shortages in healthcare are a widespread challenge, prompting hospitals in Europe to explore similar robotic support systems. For instance, during the healthcare workers’ strikes in 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) considered deploying helper robots in hospitals to alleviate staff burdens.

Looking ahead, Expper Technologies plans to enhance Robin’s functions further. Future developments include equipping the robot to measure patients’ vital signs and relay that information to medical teams. Longer-term objectives involve designing Robin to assist elderly individuals with daily tasks, such as dressing and using the bathroom.

As hospitals worldwide face increasing demands for patient care, the integration of therapeutic robots like Robin represents a promising avenue for providing emotional support and enhancing the overall healthcare experience.