Bengaluru hospital to use advance technology to screen COVID-19 patients before they meet doctor

To prevent the doctors and healthcare workers from the contraction of the novel coronavirus, a Bengaluru-based hospital has decided to use advanced technology.

As per the reports in India Today, with the use of technology, the hospital will be able to screen the COVID-19 patients before they meet a human doctor.

The Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, will now be going to use robots for the screening of COVID-19 patients, which was earlier done by a doctor.

This applaudable step comes amid the novel coronavirus outbreak across the country.

Robots name—Mitra and Mitri will screen people who came to the hospital for COVID-19 check-ups.

The role of Mitra is quite simple. It will ask 5 questions to patients i.e. your name, contact number, etc. It will also take the body temperature of a person and will also ask if the person is suffering from fever.

After satisfying with all details, Mitra will allow the person to meet a receptionist. However, if a person has been suspected with COVID-19 symptoms, Mitra will direct him/her to Mitri robot.

The second robot, Mitri, will help in screening the person showing flu-like symptoms and it will arrange a video call with the doctor and then issues a slip to the patient to visit a doctor.

Dr (Wing Commander) A Nagasubramaniam, Medical Director, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road told India Today TV that this step has been taken to ensure that health staff should be protected at the initial stage from contracting the virus from patients.

"This barrier screening will help both -- the health care workers, patients -- and simultaneously give confidence to all in the system. There is absolutely no close contact here and the aim is to adopt technology and showcase it in the best possible way, and I hope we will be successful in this," Nagasubramaniam told India Today TV.

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