Navigating Human Resources Issues in Healthcare: The Intersection of Humans and Robots

Robot integration in healthcare, driven by cost-effectiveness, productivity, and capability enhancement, is increasingly crucial. Various robots have been developed to aid professionals and improve patient care. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, an aging population, and technological advancements necessitate this progress. As staff will interact with robots daily, the balance between soft and hard management raises questions about potential human resource challenges. We interviewed health experts, researchers, and technology experts on this topic to investigate these challenges. We also consulted literature reviews. The results highlighted the importance of staff participation in the robotic integration process in healthcare. This can be achieved by clearly defining staff roles, ensuring training programs, working on team dynamics, and individual motivation. Human resources should consider organizational challenges, such as infrastructure, continuous communication, and the redefinition of roles, to achieve organizational benefits and ensure the sustainable integration of robotics. Finally, privacy doesn’t seem to be as much of a challenge as the ethics surrounding human-robot interaction in healthcare, where further studies are needed.