July 25, 2022

Bringing back a clean bill of health: Automation in healthcare

Healthcare workers have shown remarkable strength and courage battling COVID-19 since 2020. They’ve withstood the worst of the pandemic while saving countless lives.

But after two years of COVID cases clogging hospitals — and the overall impact on the numerous services they offer — hospital administrators are sounding alarms: the system is on the verge of collapse.

Doctors, nurses, lab staff, paramedics — workers at every level have reached their breaking point. So much so, in fact, that they’re retiring early, switching to less demanding positions or leaving healthcare altogether.

In Canada, job vacancies among healthcare practitioners increased 92 percent from September to December 2021 compared to the same period before the pandemic.

A less talked about group, but equally important to hospitals remaining operational, is custodial staff. Already feeling overworked and undervalued, COVID’s increased cleaning demands have pushed custodial crews beyond their limits.

Long hours and difficult working conditions are driving them away and making hiring replacements difficult, especially when primary care positions receive more focus and attention.

So, with staff leaving, budgets shrinking, and cleaning teams struggling, how can hospitals navigate through this crisis?

Automation improves worker satisfaction

Imagine performing repetitive cleaning tasks in less time at a higher level of productivity all while measuring the effort? Or if you could offload those same tasks to technology? Automation can deliver both.

For hospital cleaning teams working around the clock, adding a floor scrubbing robot to the team delivers massive benefits to the custodial team and the facility.

In fact, we already see examples across multiple industries: automation in the workplace results in happier, more productive and less stressed employees.

That’s where Neo, the fully autonomous floor scrubbing robot, shines.

Equipping your hospital with Neo(s) not only lessens the workload — and fatigue levels — on your cleaning staff, it raises cleanliness standards as well. And because Neo is a robot it delivers a consistent clean that doesn’t vary with shift changes, absent or sick employees, and labor shortages that challenge day-to-day operations and place further strain on workers.

Simply put: Neo lends a helping hand to staff during an unrelenting COVID crisis.

Extending the value of every healthcare dollar spent

An unstable labor supply is affecting multiple industries, and healthcare is no exception. But unlike other sectors, hospitals face unique challenges.

For private hospitals, who usually outsource their housekeeping and service functions, the industry could lose between $70 - $140 billion in profits in 2022 once inflation fully takes hold. With less money to spend, how do you raise wages to attract new recruits?

For public hospitals, new laws guaranteeing improved wages, benefits and job security will increase the cost burden and inevitably lead to bigger deficits.

In both cases, hospitals need to focus on streamlining costs while doubling down on efficiency — these are some of Neo’s key benefits.

By adding autonomous robotic solutions to cleaning teams, you’re embedding cost savings into the long-term financial health of your hospital. Yes, Neo helps increase your cleaning ROI in the short-term, but it also delivers economic benefits for years to come.

Deploying Neo puts a stable foundation in place. With rising wages, supply chain bottlenecks, the potential for future recessions, government-mandated employment benefits and inflation wreaking havoc on your hospital’s financial future, building financial security into your game plan is a buffer against fiscally disrupting your hospital.

Why cleaning analytics matter

In an industry where overlooking or misreporting data can have serious consequences, it’s essential to track and report cleaning activity.

Take a moment to consider your hospital’s daily cleaning checklist: diagnostic, waiting and patient rooms; hallways, corridors and entrances; information desks, payment kiosks and gift shops; and food courts, cafeterias and much more.

These are just a few of the many public-facing touchpoints that can be gateways to outside contamination entering your healthcare facility. It’s enough to make anyone stressed and overwhelmed, never mind individuals already burnt out from COVID waves that show no sign of stopping.

You need a better, more efficient way to monitor, manage and measure your hospital’s floor care efforts. With Avidbots Command Center you can do just that, ensuring that your floor care operation is tracked every single time you clean. Detailed reporting allows you to closely keep track of what areas were cleaned, what areas weren’t cleaned and why with insightful cleaning analytics.

A smarter approach to today’s healthcare challenges

If you’re interested in learning how Neo can help your hospital or healthcare facility overcome staffing, budget and ongoing healthcare emergencies, please contact us to learn more.

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