Looking to the future while keeping an eye on the present, the Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) de Santo António brought together professionals from various fields to discuss emerging challenges in operating rooms. Covering topics like sustainability, technological innovation, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the event revolved around a shared topic: creating value in healthcare and investing in the development of best practices.
One of the highlights was the use of robotic technologies and their impact on improving healthcare delivery. “Robótica em logística” was the title of the presentation by Cláudia Rocha, a researcher in Robotics and Intelligent Systems at INESC TEC; she explored several key themes: from robotic systems supporting hospital logistics (e.g., meal and medication delivery, or disinfection systems) to patient-assistance robotics (for instance, autonomous wheelchairs), rehabilitation robotics (using intelligent AI-based systems to detect compensatory movements in upper-limb post-stroke rehabilitation), and multidisciplinary collaboration (ensuring that solutions are clinically effective, not just technically sound).
Cláudia Rocha stressed the importance of the event, which she said encouraged “deep reflection on the challenges and opportunities currently affecting operating rooms and, more broadly, healthcare services.” Highlighting discussions around technological innovation – particularly robotics and AI as transformative tools – the researcher emphasised that “robotics can be applied to hospital logistics and put at the service of the operating units, enabling better clinical and operational outcomes.” She also praised “the professionalism and commitment of everyone involved in modernising healthcare services, valuing multidisciplinary teams, and humanising patient care. A true example of how collaboration and technology can move forward together in building the future of healthcare.”
The first edition of the Congresso do Bloco Operatório da Clínica de Cirurgia da ULS Santo António took place on 21 October at the Fundação António Cupertino de Miranda, bringing together over 300 participants.
The researcher mentioned in this news piece is associated with INESC TEC.
Photo Credits: ULS SA
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