Robotics in healthcare

• Robotic technology is increasingly used across healthcare systems to support in a variety of areas

• As with any technological innovation there are challenges to widespread adoption of robotics in healthcare, including cost and considerations for patient safety 

• With careful planning to ensure robotics are safely implemented, they offer great potential for improving efficiency and quality in healthcare systems

Robots, in some form, have been used in healthcare for over 30 years, but recent technological developments make robotics one of the fastest-growing fields in the medical industry.^1,2 Medical robotics includes a wide range of systems to aid healthcare professionals in areas such as surgery, rehabilitation, patient assistance, and logistical automation.³ Robotic-assisted surgery is a key area for robotic systems, with over four million procedures undertaken in 2026. Increasing use is further evidenced by market predictions, which estimate the surgical robotics market alone will jump from 9.3 billion to 16.4 billion $USD from 2024 to 2030.³ 

While the use of robotics in healthcare promises to deliver more precision, consistency, and minimally invasive care, its widespread adoption is not straightforward. Expensive upfront costs and challenges to patient safety and cybersecurity must be taken into account before healthcare systems adopt any new robotic technology.

José Morey, M.D., Eisenhower fellow and a health and technology consultant for NASA, Forbes, MIT, and the White House Office of Science and Technology, gives his thoughts on the use of robotics and considerations for healthcare executives before implementation.

The cost of a robotic-assisted surgery platform is significant to any healthcare system, with the most recent release from the largest manufacturer ranging between 1.8 to 2.5 million $USD.⁴ However, Dr Morey notes that determining the value to the system is more complex than looking solely at upfront costs: “A Chief Operating Officer should look at metrics that demonstrate measurable clinical and financial return on investment. These could include case throughput (procedures per robot per day), complication and conversion rates compared to traditional surgery, surgeon utilization rates, and contribution margin per case.” 

He continues: “Hospitals could also track procedure growth that has been enabled by robotics. For example, new referrals or higher-acuity cases that they weren’t able to do before, and also operating room efficiencies, such as reduced turnover time and shorter operative durations as teams gain experience.”  

Considerations for measuring value have changed over time. Whereas previously “reduced length of stay” in hospital was deemed most important, Dr. Morey believes that “it is no longer the primary needle-mover.” Systems increasingly evaluate the benefits of robotic surgery based on whether it expands surgical capacity and improves quality metrics under value-based reimbursement models.^5,6 “Rather than simply shortening hospital stays, the most important indicators today are total episode-of-care cost, reduced readmissions, and surgeon productivity,” says Dr. Morey.

Healthcare systems across the world are battling with staff shortages, particularly since the 2020 pandemic. The United States is forecast to have a shortage of up to 100,000 critical healthcare workers as early as 2028.⁷ Added to this, existing staff within hospitals are already struggling with time spent outside of patient care. The Michigan Health Council estimates that nurses and staff can spend six percent of their time searching for supplies, equipment, medications, and information.⁷ Dr. Morey sees a lot of opportunity for the use of robotic process automation in healthcare: “The greatest ROI is in non-surgical robotics, and in automating routine clinical logistics. Hospitals still rely heavily on manual processes for tasks such as supply tracking, medication delivery, bed turnover, and patient transport. These tasks consume enormous staff time but provide little clinical value.”

Automating these operational tasks by combining AI and robotics in healthcare systems could dramatically improve hospital efficiency and reduce staff burnout. “Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can move medications, lab samples, linens, food, supplies, and even patients through hospitals. For example, you already have robots in Asia that help clean hospitals, or monitor people entering the facility for fever. They can also help triage patients. At Veterans’ Affairs in the US, they’ve had robots refilling their medical supplies, and there’s no reason that can’t expand to private facilities,” says Dr. Morey. He continues, “Another high-ROI area is bedside assistance technologies such as robotic lifting systems and automated medication dispensing. These systems reduce workplace injuries and streamline medication delivery, which stabilizes staffing by lowering turnover and fatigue.” 

Health systems implementing AMRs often see measurable reductions in staff burnout and improved workflow efficiency because routine transport tasks run continuously without relying on human labor.⁸ Although there are some physical limitations to current robots, such as the inability to climb stairs, it is anticipated that robots will evolve to a point where they require no human intervention at all.⁹ Dr. Morey believes this is a key benefit to robotic process automation in healthcare: “By freeing nurses and clinicians from routine and repetitive logistical work, hospitals could redirect human expertise toward complex patient care and increase overall operational resilience.”

The concept of Hospitals in the Home (HiTH) is not new. The model aims to address capacity issues within healthcare services by moving care from the hospital to the home, and in turn driving efficiencies, reducing costs, and improving patient experience, all of which have been demonstrated in practice.¹⁰ Robotics can help support hospital-at-home models by enabling remote monitoring and intervention that previously required in-facility care. 

Mobile telepresence robots (TPRs) are remotely controlled mobile devices with in-built features such as cameras, screens, and sensors to enable remote communication and collaboration. In combination with automated diagnostic devices, TPRs can allow clinicians to remotely assess patients, capture vital signs, perform imaging scans, and monitor medication adherence.¹¹

“We are approaching a point where robotic diagnostics, such as automated ultrasound probes or AI-guided imaging devices, may become standard components of advanced home-based recovery programs. These tools allow specialists to evaluate patients remotely with high accuracy, reducing unnecessary hospital visits while maintaining clinical safety.  They can integrate with smart homes and use mirrors, wearables, and Wi-Fi-based monitoring to continuously monitor,” says Dr. Morey. 

The technology is particularly important for addressing challenges related to the aging population and reducing strain on caregivers and institutions.¹² Dr. Morey explains: “Robots can be integral in elder care, which is a growing problem globally. They can be used as companions and tend to elderly patients who may not have much, if any, family or community support.”

Robotic technology can bring the hospital to the home, and modular platforms can also extend specialist care into rural communities. Although cost is a big consideration for rural settings, modular robotic platforms can lower costs by separating hardware from software capabilities. “Instead of purchasing a fully integrated surgical robot costing millions of dollars, hospitals could adopt smaller modular systems where robotic arms, imaging modules, and control software are upgraded independently,” says Dr. Morey, noting that, “This reduces capital expenditure while allowing hospitals to scale capabilities over time.”

Cloud-based software updates and AI-driven guidance systems can then help community surgeons perform complex procedures with the same precision tools used in major academic centers.¹³ By standardizing surgical workflows and providing real-time guidance, robotic platforms can help narrow the expertise gap between rural hospitals and top-tier institutions.¹⁴ Dr. Morey explains: “This would ensure that it doesn't matter if you have a complex disease process in a rural setting, or in that tier-1 location.”

Digital twin technology allows for improved surgical planning by creating a virtual replica of a patient’s anatomy and surgical environment using imaging data such as CT or MRI scans. By having a digital twin available, surgeons can rehearse procedures with robotic systems in a simulated environment, testing different approaches and anticipating potential complications before they ever enter the operating room.¹⁵ This allows the surgical team to refine strategies and improve precision before performing the real procedure, and in multi-hospital systems, enables standardized training and procedural planning. Surgeons in different locations can simulate the same procedure using identical models, which reduces variability in surgical technique and outcomes. Over time, this approach may significantly improve consistency and quality across entire health systems, including in rural settings. 

Dr. Morey notes that, “Something to keep in mind in this space is how quantum computing will affect this.” He explains: “Quantum computing allows the virtual system, or in this case the robot, to attempt the case in an infinite number of universes at the same time. It can see all potential outcomes and decide on the best outcome for the patient based on that computing power and capability. Which is pretty amazing.”

Patient safety is a key consideration for robotic systems that rely on hospital networks and patient data, making them susceptible to data breaches or system manipulations.¹⁶ “This is where both the "first do no harm" oath, and Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics for the ethical use of robots come into play, as we move from science fiction to science fact. If a system experiences a cybersecurity event, the robot must immediately default to a safe state without risking patient harm,” explains Dr. Morey. 

For this reason, he advises that hospital leaders should evaluate medical robotic systems as safety-critical infrastructure: “They should demand transparency regarding software architecture, patch management, and how robotic systems isolate critical motion control from network vulnerabilities. Vendors should also be able to demonstrate strong encryption, secure authentication protocols, and the ability to maintain safe operation even if the network connection is disrupted.” On an ongoing basis, Dr. Morey advises: “Health systems should also require regular penetration testing and independent security audits to ensure robotic systems meet modern cybersecurity standards.”

Despite huge advances in robotic technology, Dr. Morey is clear that a “one robot to rule them all” type model won't be here for a while. “In the short to medium term, it is still going to be modular. That is what is most practical, as modular systems allow hospitals to upgrade individual components such as visualization systems, robotic arms, or AI guidance software, without replacing entire platforms. This reduces long-term costs and prevents hospitals from being locked into outdated technology.”

He continues, “By 2030, leaders will likely prioritize open architectures that integrate with imaging systems, surgical navigation platforms, and AI-driven decision tools. This interoperability allows hospitals to adopt new innovations quickly, while protecting earlier investments in robotic infrastructure.”

However they are implemented, the integration of robotics offers a great opportunity for healthcare systems, and the landscape is shifting fast. With the promise of elevated quality, efficiency, and outcomes, it has been predicted that “robotics will revolutionize the way medical care is delivered by 2035”.¹⁷