News
Rochester, NY - Meep Meep! That’s Moxi the robot saying 'Hello' as it comes down the hallways of Rochester General Hospital (RGH) and Unity Hospital, helping deliver or pick up essential supplies across multiple hospital units. Rochester Regional Health (RRH) has the only acute care hospitals in New York State using this cutting edge technology to support pharmaceutical, lab, nursing and other hospital staff so they can focus on what they do best: patient care.
“We are excited to introduce Moxi robots to our staff, and look forward to having them help our pharmacy, lab, supply and nursing teams perform those time-consuming tasks that take them away from their patients,” said Casey Wilbert, Rochester Regional Health, Senior Director, Acute Care Pharmacy Services. “We have been looking for innovative ways to help ease some of the burden on our staff, and find efficiencies throughout the system. Moxi is a step in that direction, and an exciting way to support, not replace, our valued hospital team members.”
Moxi was designed and created by Diligent Robotics, a robotics company from Austin that develops artificial intelligence to enable robots to collaborate with and adapt to humans. Moxi is equipped with an arm, gripper hand, and mobility to navigate hospital hallways safely.
Four Moxi robots will be deployed at Rochester General Hospital. Four others will be deployed at Unity Hospital. Rochester Regional Health pays for Moxi's service using a subscription model based on how much the robots work.
Moxi helps with non-patient-facing tasks and does not provide any direct patient care. Using machine learning technology and an array of sensors, it maps the hospital and uses those mechanized arms to navigate multiple types of doors including those that require badge access. The robots have three different sized and locked drawers, so they can grab supplies, deliver lab samples and pick up medicines from the pharmacy. Automating these tasks allows hospital team members to spend more time with patients, saving them hundreds of steps and hours of time around the hospital floors. Moxi is not authorized to enter any patient rooms, deliver narcotics, or handle used or dirty equipment.
“There are times when our clinical staff is pulled away for non-clinical related tasks because they are doing everything they can to provide the quickest, safest care for their patients,” said Shannon Bentham, Vice President and Chief Nursing & Patient Care Officer for Unity hospital. “Sometimes there are simple tasks like picking up supplies or medications that may be too large to fit in our internal tube system. That takes our nurses away from the unit. Moxi is a solution to that challenge, giving our clinical teams time back at the bedside to continue providing the high-quality care that our patients deserve.”
Moxi robots are currently still mapping out the best and most efficient routes at RGH and Unity Hospital and will be fully operational by the end of the month.
“We know the workforce challenges health care systems all around the country are facing right now. Rochester Regional Health is committed to finding innovative ways to ease the strain and stress on our staff. Moxi is one tool helping us do that, and helping us use all our resources wisely and efficiently,” Wilbert said.
# # #
About Rochester Regional Health
Rochester Regional Health is an integrated health services organization serving the people of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond. The system includes nine hospitals; primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses and urgent care facilities; innovative senior services, facilities and independent housing; a wide range of behavioral health services; and Rochester Regional Health Laboratories and ACM Global Laboratories, a global leader in patient and clinical trials. Rochester Regional Health is the region's second-largest employer. Learn more at RochesterRegional.org.
