ACT Health’s Centenary Hospital for Women and Children has added a humanoid robot to its paediatric ward personnel to distract young patients during medical procedures.
Known as MEDiZen, the appointment of the robot was the first of its kind in Australia and was significantly improving the hospital experience for young patients.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris said that providing clinical care to a child who was calm and more focused on the robot, rather than the medical procedure, made the procedure less stressful for all concerned.
“Coming into hospital, particularly for our youngest patients and their families, can be quite a daunting experience,” Ms Fitzharris said.
She said the robot was designed to lift children’s spirits, provide a distraction and talk them through procedures.
“The robot, which runs the Medicine and Engineering Designing Intelligence (MEDi) software, was developed and tested at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Canada over a three year period.
“The testing period had showed the MEDi robot changed the outlook of children on their hospital stays.”
The Minister said children who had interaction with MEDiZen usually left the hospital chatting about the robot, rather than the procedure or appointment they may have had.
She said the $25,000 to purchase the MEDi robot was made possible through a donation to the Canberra Hospital Foundation from the EVT (Event Hospitality and Entertainment) Charity Committee.
