Exploration of robotic system design in improving the patient experience in physical therapy sessions at the UVA Children´s Hospital

The patient-centered care paradigm is an influential healthcare management model that can improve the way care is delivered. Autonomous agents may be implemented in hospitals to enhance patient-centered by adding tailored patient interaction without the expense of hiring additional workforce. Observations in the University of Virginia´s Children´s Hospital Physical Therapy unit were conducted to gather qualitative data regarding the typical patient experience. Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies framework was used to interpret observations and to articulate specific bodily movements and their connection to a patient´s emotional state. With a movement-based design, an autonomous solution was designed to embody behaviors that replicate observed patient-caregiver interactions; automating this can improve patient experience. Robotic behaviors were designed on the humanoid NAO robot. The paper presents high-level robotic control techniques to design a set of programmed behaviors to supplement child physical therapy sessions.