Robot Nurses Begin Working At Odessa Hospital in Texas ⛑

[appalachiablue]

Robot Nurses, KCEN News, June 11, 2026. (2:07 mins). A Texas hospital has introduced robot assistants designed to deliver supplies and lab samples, helping nurses spend more time with patient care.
Meet Moxie, a 5 foot, 300 lb. service robot that is now employed at Odessa Regional Medical Center. It transports things like medicine and supplies throughout the entire hospital 24 hours a day.

[wcmagumba]

1. I would be freaked out if one of these came into my room...I'm not sure I like it...

[appalachiablue]

3. IK. Script mentions robot transports supplies, nada about direct work with patients but who knows.

Will this become our primary physician in a few more years?

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Well, I'm sure this is *much* cheaper than hiring actual humans at a livable wage. nt

[appalachiablue]

4. !! The bottom line definitely. Tx for posting.

[Lovie777]

5. Nope...............

[Jirel]

6. Meh. They just carry stuff.

In reality, this is very similar to some of the less public systems I’ve seen in hospitals since the late 1980s. In the basement of one hospital, where there was a laundry, pharmacy, and other support departments, there was a pretty fast moving, hanging trolly system that whizzed around suspended from the ceiling. The units looked kind of like bookcases, and if one hit you, it could potentially kill someone frail or just if they got hit badly. As it was a “employees only” area, they just marked the track path on the floor and had lots of warning signs to not stray into the path, and the units had flashing lights, and they called it good. Some years later, I saw a more sophisticated system of smaller, lighter, cart-sized trolleys that were self propelled with more safety features, just following a colored line on the floor.

I don’t see these as being all that different, just more visible to the public. Presumably, they also are safer to have around people versus in the bowels of a large metropolitan hospital. Are they taking someone’s job? Also probably yes, in some hospitals. That’s a problem. I don’t think these are necessarily going to be cheaper than human labor, either, but of course CEOs just HAVE TO go for the latest dumb fad.

[appalachiablue]

7. I wonder why 'service robots' are called 'nurses' & not hospital or medical supply assistants if they're only

intended to handle objects and not care for patients directly. And no degree of course.

Thanks for info about automated supply systems and transport in hospitals.

[Jirel]

15. I'm going with sensationalism.

There are so many headlines now that are demonstrably nonsense, but written that way for clickbait.

[Ilsa]

9. I've seen pneumatic tubes used for transporting

smaller items, meds paperwork, doctors orders, etc.

[wcmagumba]

10. The hospital IT dept I worked in some 20-30 years ago had those tubes, they were fun and worked well for small items...

[appalachiablue]

11. Yes, thanks for posting.

[Abolishinist]

16. Wow, that brings back memories.

Circa 1970 my girlfriend at the time was in high school and worked weekends at a local clothing store, fairly large, maybe 3-4 stories. Anyway, she would ring up a purchase, the customer gave her cash, and she then sent the money via a pneumatic tube to the 'money' room, where they would then send back the change. As I recall, it was very quick.

[Ilsa]

17. I remember witnessing that in rare situations, but

only if large bills or a pricey sale occurred.

[Callie1979]

8. Robots could easily be used to deliver drinks, supplies etc.

several things they could do that make time for more important tasks to be done by the humans.

[appalachiablue]

12. Ok

[Sweet Rosie Red]

13. These are not nursing tasks!

When these things can start intelligently evaluating and recording a patients vital signs and general condition, along with seeing to a patients comfort and deciding when to contact a physician, etc. then they will be nursing!

Nursing is a skilled profession! These things are automated autonomous trolleys.

[appalachiablue]

14. The way I see it. Rolling trash cans for transporting supplies with no 'nursing skills.'

Nursing is a skilled profession!

These things are automated autonomous trolleys.