EXCLUSIVE: How Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta uses robot fleet to support its new hospital

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – With its new Arthur M. Blank Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta now has more space to care for more children. But that space also means more ground for its workers to cover.

The solution? A fleet of robots that roam the halls, remotely open doors, and even have their own elevators.

The robots use LiDar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It’s a method that uses light to create 3D models that allow the robots to move around the hospital and keep them from bumping into people.

“I’ve never worked at a hospital with a robot system before,” said pharmacy resident Kaitlyn Currie. “You don’t have everyone running up and down from the floor to the pharmacy.”

The robots are monitored from the hospital’s basement.

“This our control room where we manage all of our robots,” said senior advisor Perry Bhamornsiri, showing off a small room with a few chairs and multiple large screens high on the wall.

Bhamornsiri helps oversee all 90 T-3 Aethon robots.

“It tells you where they are and when their job began,” he said of the monitors.

Throughout the day, the robots make supply runs, deliver medication and food, carry linens and medical waste, and even take out the trash.

Sara gattis / clinical manager, children’s healthcare of atlanta

“When you’re going from a six-story building to a 19-story building, it definitely saves a lot of time,” said Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Clinical Manager Sara Gattis.

The robots have kid-friendly covers and good manners.

But with anything technology, there are also worries that these robots could take jobs. Bhamornsiri is adamant that’s not the case. To him, it’s about subsidizing the workload, not replacing workers.

While SkyNet likely isn’t in the future for these T-3s, more comprehensive implementation could be.

“I do think more and more hospitals will adapt,” Gattis said.

And one where humans work hand-in-hand with those who just have wheels.

“It’s a very unique experience,” Currie said.

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