UA uses robots to train medical students

Medical students get patient experience with robot

Those beginning their education in healthcare may find themselves dealing with one or two patients tht are not human, particularly if they are enrolled at the University of Arizona.

The school has recently purchased two robots, Hal and Noelle, to teach students how to handle live births. Noelle is a robotic mother that gives birth to the baby Hal, allowing students to learn from experience in a no-risk setting.

Noelle does many of the things a live human who is giving birth would do, including asking for help, instructing doctors to keep their distance, and screaming out in pain. The robot can also simulate caesarian sections and hemorrhaging.

When baby Hal is delivered, he is sometimes pink and crying, indicating all is fine, or somewhat blue and quiet, indicating he is choking. So far hundreds of students have used the robotic pair as learning aids.

"People are in the simulation lab all the time," said David Biffar, chief of Technical and Laboratory Services, quoted by Fox News. "Up to 20 medical students plus numerous residents a week. At least 3,000 individuals in the past year for more than 4,000 training hours."

As technology becomes cheaper and more widely available, students of healthcare may come to view robotic teaching aids as a standard aspect of their education.