After the greeting, the 1.3 m tall robot, with a display screen on its head, asked Tu Anh if she needed assistance. When she replied that she wanted to see a dentist, the robot responded, "Let me guide you to the appropriate area right now." It then offered her options for specialists, selected based on her response, and led her to the correct room.
"It was very convenient and pleasant, even a little amusing," she said. "It made the hospital visit less stressful."
Tu Anh is one of many patients who have experienced the robot during a two-week trial that began on 10/4 in the ground floor lobby on No Trang Long Street. Positioned near the reception desk, the robot provides information and directions, reducing the workload for medical staff and enhancing the patient experience. This marks a new step in the hospital's digital transformation.
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The 1.3 m tall robot, with a display screen on its head, interacts directly with patients using voice commands. Photo: Minh Toan |
The 1.3 m tall robot, with a display screen on its head, interacts directly with patients using voice commands. Photo: Minh Toan
Programmed for voice interaction, this latest-generation robot can greet patients, provide directions, guide them to examination rooms, and offer information on services and pricing. It can also signal for right-of-way, stop automatically for obstacles, and even tell jokes to ease patient anxiety. These friendly, sometimes humorous, features have made the robot a quick favorite among patients.
A mother, holding her child, asked the robot to dance. The robot immediately replied, "I will perform a lively dance right now," then moved its screen back and forth to upbeat music. The little girl, delighted, swayed to the music, laughed, touched the robot, and forgot, for a moment, her discomfort.
The robot tells jokes and dances. Video: Hospital provided
Doctor Tran Minh Hien, representative of the Digital Transformation Board at Gia Dinh People's Hospital, said the robot marks a new advancement in the application of technology in healthcare, improving service quality and projecting a modern, patient-friendly image.
"This is the latest generation of robots. If the two-week trial is successful, the hospital will consider deploying more robots in other areas to better serve the needs of the people," he said.
With approximately 5,000 patients daily, but only 13 customer service staff working during business hours, the hospital hopes the robot will reduce pressure on staff, assist patients outside of business hours, and increase efficiency. The hospital also plans to expand the robot's use to internal logistics, such as transporting medicine and equipment, to reduce wait times and optimize the patient experience.
The robot guides patients at Gia Dinh People's Hospital. Video: Hospital provided
Gia Dinh People's Hospital is a first-class general hospital under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health. In the 2025 quality rankings released by the Department in July, the hospital ranked second out of 165 evaluated hospitals.
Le Phuong
