The introduction of robots, microbots and what was previously mere science fiction has now become reality in today’s healthcare environment. The da Vinci Surgical robotic system which when first introduced and approved for human use around the new millennium has performed to date over 24,000 surgeries. The da Vinci technology and its acceptance as a proven medical procedure paved the way and enabled the movement towards development of new groundbreaking robotic devices with many more to come!
A recent Wall Street Journal article says less than 1,000 of these robotic devices are used within the healthcare environment today but it is expected this number will rise quickly. Their ability as a tool eliminate’ the factor of human fatigue and error through the clinical use of robotic technology which has proven itself successful along the way in being another contributing change to the face of an ever changing patient care delivery system.
So where does this newest and next technology place itself or should we say where does the BMET find themselves in the service and maintenance plan of these contraptions? Here we have yet another opportunity the HTM service profession will be faced with in defining their role and purpose in this continued transformational healthcare environment. Danger Will Robinson – no, the future Mr. and Ms. HTM service professional!