New Robot Friend at St. Mary’s Hospital

A unique addition has arrived at Queens Hospital, particularly at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital. Children there can now interact with Robin the Robot, a friendly four-foot high robot designed to lift spirits.

Robin, sporting a white cone on her face and a blue-eyed display, was introduced at Bayside Hospital in June as part of a pilot program running for a year. She rolls around the facility, visiting kids, chatting about their treatments, and aiming to ease some of the stress they face.

According to Sean Larry, the CEO of St. Mary’s, “Our children are part of the most vulnerable population, so we’re always looking for creative solutions to enhance their quality of life.” It’s really about finding new ways to help, I think.

This innovative solution, developed by Expper Technologies, has already been implemented in 29 hospitals across the nation, from California to Massachusetts. St. Mary was prioritized as the first hospital in New York to receive Robin, given the severity of cases they handle, including serious illnesses like cancer and spinal cord injuries.

Robin mimics the voice and personality of a 7-year-old girl, which allows her to engage in playful banter and even challenge kids to interactive games. She also uses facial recognition to remember details about the patients, allowing her to ask things like, “How was your surgery?” during each encounter.

The goal is to create “mutual screen time,” encouraging children to distract themselves and maintain a positive mindset. Before treatments, Robin visits their rooms to explain what they’ll experience, much like watching a cartoon or a video game before a procedure, as described by Dawn Cougliette, St. Mary’s assistant vice president of strategic planning and clinical innovation.

The feedback about Robin has been incredibly positive. “She’s like a peer to the kids,” Cougliette noted.

Following an evaluation period of pilot programs, the hospital will decide if Robin will become a permanent resident.

One patient, 25-year-old Shekina Tiabo, expressed amazement at Robin’s ability to talk and remember her name, saying, “I was like, ‘Wow! She knows my name, it’s really cool.'” Another patient, Darrin Shea, initially unsure of Robin, now finds her presence comforting on tough days. “I was shocked because on the first day I didn’t expect a robot friend to come,” he shared.

Even when he’s feeling down, Darrin appreciates discussing his favorite pizza toppings with Robin, finding solace in that small interaction.