Design and Implementation of a Safe Overbed Table that Helps Healthcare Providers During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Social distancing guidelines have been imposed to slow the pandemic of Corona virus disease (COVID-19), relieves pressure on medical system, and prevents deaths. Thus, social distancing between healthcare workers and patients is highly important in order to limit the virus transmission. So, the main aim of this paper is to increase social distancing between healthcare workers and patients by developing an automated over-bed delivery table, able to move in the hospital room between all entities using some wireless communication devices. In addition, the table will be able to sanitize itself before reaching the worker and the patient. This table serves, other than the delivery of food and drinks to the patient, in controlling the medication intake due to an advanced medication box placed on the table where the healthcare provider can put the medication and set the time required to take them. Two compatible remote controls are designed to serve both patients and healthcare provider. The system’s performance was carefully evaluated and successfully tested. The results have shown an accurate tracking for the predefined track, no faulty errors detected, on-time sanitizing and great precision concerning the detection of the medication as well as the required timing.