Dec 17, 2007 3:04 pm US/Eastern
Robot Could Make Chemotherapy Safer For Patients
DENVER, CO (WBZ) ―
A new high-tech robot could soon help make chemotherapy safer for patients in the U.S.
The robot measures and mixes chemotherapy, to help reduce the risk of human error.
It's already being used in Europe, and now the first-of-its kind device will go into operation at a Colorado hospital in early 2008.
The hospital pharmacy already mixes the drugs in a sterile environment and double checks the doses. However, doctors like the robot because it reduces risk even further, by eliminating manual calculations and human error.
"Most importantly, I think, is safety. That's the first thing that we were looking at when we decided to get this robot," said Dr. Han Myint of the University of Colorado Hospital.
Mistakes can be deadly. The wrong mix could endanger patients, and because the drugs are designed to kill cancer cells they can also hurt hospital staff.
"They could get burnt or some of their own cells could be destroyed," said Dr. Nancy Stolpman, the Director of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado's School of Pharmacy.
Officials say if the new robot is shown to help reduce errors, you can expect to see more of them being used in U.S. hospitals in the near future.
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