Selangor, August 12: Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) introduced four new “cat-like employees” in their paediatric wards this week, drawing much excitement from its staff members and patients alike.
In Malaysia, BellaBot is the first of its kind to join the hospital’s operations.
“We are thrilled to be the first hospital in Malaysia to adopt the BellaBot technology,” SMC CEO Bryan Lin said in a statement.
“This is also the time after being recognised as Frost & Sullivan’s 2021 Smart Hospital Company of the Year just two months ago. With the challenges COVID-19 brings, we are committed to constantly look for innovative ways on enhancing our patients’ experience while keeping their safety and well-being at the top of mind.
“The potential of growth for BellaBot is vast.
“This is just the beginning.
“The advent of smart technology like BellaBot can help our staff to focus on patient care, provide surge capacity during peak demand and improve the overall operational efficiency.”
These highly advanced robots will assist in delivering food three times a day to young patients and their caregivers during lunch, tea, and dinner hours.
BellaBot has four stacked shelves where meal trays can be placed, customisable delivery functions, and a navigation system that allows it to safely manoeuvre around the wards and its human colleagues.
When not busy serving meals, BellaBot can bring cheer to young patients via its ‘birthday mode’ function, where it can deliver birthday cakes accompanied by an entertaining birthday song.
Other than its duties at the paediatric wards, BellaBot can also be seen at the hospital’s lobbies as a Lobby Ambassador in helping visitors find their way around the expanding hospital.
It is currently fluent in English and Mandarin, with the potential for more in future. Introducing BellaBot, Sunway Medical Centre’s Manager of Food Services, Joanne Leow shared the team’s experience in embracing digital means of conducting food service, as well as their process of adapting their new robot team member to suit the needs of the hospital.
“It didn’t take us long to see how positively received and well-loved BellaBot is by our staff and patients,” she said.
“We were pleasantly surprised at the ease with which we were able to integrate BellaBot into our in-patient meal delivery.
“Bella is a part of the family now. We hope that this technology is a stepping stone towards more forms of integration to serve and care for our patients on a whole new experience.”
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