Pepper for the Fight Against Covid-19 at Hořovice Hospital, Czech Republic
Covid-19 crisis accelerated the deployment of Pepper
The spread of coronavirus has been most toilsome for hospitals. To assist the health workers in their endless contribution to the fight against Covid-19, Pepper has been of immense help. A hospital in the town of Hořovice, west of Prague, has gone a step further to innovate with its healthcare team by ‘employing’ Pepper. Initially employed at Children’s ward to bring joy to the younger patients, Pepper is now safeguarding the reception of Hořovice Hospital due to the health emergency caused by the novel coronavirus and the acute lack of medical personnel because of the pandemic.
Robotic Social Distancing Solution
Having a robot to assist hospitals in the fight has been beneficial. You can easily disinfect a robot, make him work for a 12-hour shift without getting tired and of course, do it all without the worry of the robot getting sick! Pepper, our humanoid robot, can detect the patient's temperature with a scanner add-on on his hand and politely ask them to disinfect their hands at the entrance in Hořovice hospital. While Pepper is largely accepted by the patients and is sometimes seen clicking pictures with the robot, listening to his presentation, and adhering to the directions, there is a small segment of especially elder patients who get overwhelmed with the robot and the staff ensures to come by for their assistance.
Results
What is more? Pepper is such a novelty! Not only do patients listen to him but also the staff is happy to have Dr.Pepper. Petra Horáková, the hospital's spokeswoman says,” Dr. Pepper, - whom the hospital staff calls Pete - has become a huge favorite both with the staff and patients”. In the same lines, the head of the reception area Natalie Kíle claims, “Dr. Pepper has proved to be a great help –people not only listen to him, but they are also no longer feel impatient with having to wait or comply with the directions given”
Given Dr. Peppers’s success in hospital management in Czechia is planning to acquire several other humanoid robots shortly for both the children’s ward and the reception to keep spreading positivity and safety amongst the patients.
About Hořovice Hospital
Hořovice Hospital is more than a regular regional hospital. The hospital offers a wide range of outpatient clinics and counseling centers connected to individual wards. It provides specialized health services beyond the scope of basic medical disciplines to patients from all over the Czech Republic. Hořovice Hospital, together with the Beroun Rehabilitation Hospital and the Multiscan Pardubice Radiology and Oncology Center, is part of the Sotirios Zavalianis Medical Group AKESO.
