Automated Machines Helping Medical Assistants

Today, automated machines in healthcare are relieving medical assistants from routine tasks, which frequently demand time away from more urgent responsibilities. In addition, these machines make healthcare procedures less costly and safer for the patient. They can even perform surgery in tiny spots and transport hazardous substances.

Automated Machines Helping Medical Assistants

Automated machines perform a variety of tasks designed to help medical assistants rather than replace them. They can monitor patient vital statistics and call for medical assistants when there is a need for them in the room. This allows automated machines to monitor several patients at one time, in a safe manner. These machine assistants can automatically enter data into a patient’s electronic health record, and automated carts can move about hospital corridors to deliver supplies. This gives medical assistants more time to focus on the patient.

Innovative Technology to Improve Personal Care

Intelligent machine technology exists in many areas directly impacting patient care. In many healthcare facilities, these machines are now cleaning and disinfecting operating suites and patient rooms. This reduces the risks of infections for both the patients and healthcare providers.

In addition, automated machines are in laboratories to take samples and then deliver, analyze and record the results. From the patient’s perspective, this is good news. The automated lab assistant can typically find a vein and draw the sample with a minimum of pain, which is especially important to a patient who has had a poor experience in the past.

Automated machines can organize and dispense medications in the pharmacy, and in some healthcare facilities, automated carts deliver meals and bed linens from floor to floor. They are riding in the elevators and navigating the automatic doors. Medical assistants may also have help from machines that performs physical therapy for paraplegics.

Healthcare Automated Machines with Creative Designs

These automated machines are being created to look friendly, and their manufacturers have made this a priority along with efficient operation. Some of these machines will respond to human speech through the use of natural language processing software. Some machines don’t look humanoid at all by design, and some do have a humanoid appearance. The latter are frequently designed to assist with personal care, training, and socialization. Manufacturers have even designed machines that look like an accident victim to train emergency personnel in trauma treatment techniques. The automated machine can scream, bleed, and respond to various treatments. Think crash test dummies with sophisticated software.

Not Replacing Human Medical Assistants

These advancements do not mean that human medical assistants are no longer needed. That is simply not true. Instead, automated machines are freeing medical assistants from tedious work in order to have more time on truly caring for the patients and focusing on their needs.

For some, the technology is still quite expensive. Smaller healthcare facilities may not have the capital to spend on this technology. In fact, many are not single machines but are systems. Automated guided vehicles need floor tracks and hall space devoted to the system, and navigation devices must be installed throughout the healthcare facility. Some carts operate with a laser-drawn map of the facility programmed into their software to help them navigate the elevators, automatic doors, and hallways. This can be expensive as an upfront cost. Ultimately, automated medical assistants will never replace the need for human contact.

While the technology is costly, and some ideas are years from fruition, automated medical machines are transforming the healthcare world in exciting ways and will continue to do so for years to come.

Did learning about automated machines helping medical assistants interest you? Ready to become a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training. The core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.