Mobile hospital robots cure numerous logistic needs

Purpose- The purpose of this paper is to show how mobile robots are addressing a variety of hospital logistic needs. Design/methodology/approach- The paper includes in‐depth interviews with developers of the Aethon hospital mobile robot logistics system. Findings- Robotics can greatly improve hospital logistic services such as moving food, lab samples, prescriptions and even add a bit of entertainment in the process. Practical implications- Hospital administrators have new answers to the old challenges of moving items in a timely and cost‐effective manner around their facility. Originality/value- Hospitals are first implementers of mobile robotics to look for answers to their logistic problems. They do not have to break new ground for themselves.