University of São Paulo: University Hospital implements program that seeks technological advances in healthcare
In 2020, the academic society mobilized to promote solutions that would help to face the covid-19 pandemic, and a partnership between the Polytechnic School (Poli) of USP and the University Hospital (HU) was important for some innovation projects in health were developed today.
Professor Leopoldo Rideki Yoshioka, from the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering at Poli, speaks in an interview with Jornal da USP in Ar 1st Edition about Hospital 4.0, a program that seeks technological advances for the HU. Yoshioka comments on an event held in 2020, with the participation of the Centro de Inovação Tecnológica do Hospital Universitário, In Tec, to present prototypes such as the hospital robot, equipment that has the purpose of carrying out the automation of the pharmacy, such as dispensing and separation of medicines. .
Another project mentioned by the professor is the cycle ergometer, physical therapy equipment similar to a “minibike”: “It is a very important piece of equipment for the recovery of post-surgical patients, because muscle mass is lost after surgery or a procedure and, while [the patient] is in bed, if he can start physical therapy exercises, recovery is much faster, reducing hospitalization time”.
cooperativeness
These works are done in a cooperative way between several professionals. Among them, professors of Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, the Clinical Analysis Laboratory and the School of Engineering. “These equipments are in the testing and development phase and, in this sense, the partnership with the HU is very important, because the health professionals themselves help us to carry out the tests and suggest improvements”, says Yoshioka.
The professor reports that one objective of this work is to seek continuity, as previously there were works carried out in isolation between health professionals and researchers, which lasted about two to three years and ended. “We are submitting projects for the creation of a permanent laboratory for the protection of, for example, prostheses, devices and equipment, so that the entire USP community, as well as other companies, can participate in this process,” he says.
Yoshioka also reflects on the country’s importance of having the ability to manage its own inputs and products, with partnerships and research carried out. He believes that they will still have a few months’ journey to reach a final product, but that there is a cooperation that will deliver this product to be industrialized and serve not only the HU, but also the Unified Health System.