ITS Rector Prof. Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (right) when explaining RAISA features to the Director of RSI Surabaya – Ahmad Yani dr H Samsul Arifin MARS

ITS Campus, ITS News – Robot Medical Assistant ITS – Unair (RAISA) helps health workers deal with COVID-19 patients. This time, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), together with PT Pertamina, handed over two RAISA units to the Surabaya-Ahmad Yani Islamic Hospital (RSI) at the ITS Robotics Center Building, Thursday (8/10).

In his remarks, ITS Rector Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng said this was the third time Pertamina Group ordered the RAISA robot through PT ITS Tekno Sains. RAISA, handed over to help health workers at RSI Surabaya – Ahmad Yani.

According to this professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering ITS, two types of Raisa robots are submitted to RSI Surabaya. They are the RAISA version of the HCU room and the ICU room. “Although they are different, both have the same principle of use, which is equipped with multimedia for communication with patients,” said the rector called Ashari.

ITS Rector Prof. Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (left) symbolically handed over the RAISA robot to C D Sasongko, General Manager of PT Pertamina (Persero) MOR V at the ITS Robotics Center.

Besides, Ashari added, for the HCU room, which is intended for patients who are still conscious, RAISA will bring various equipment needed by patients such as medicines, food, and clothes. There are also additional features on-demand, such as measuring body temperature to measure oxygen levels in patients. “The RAISA robot can also open the door automatically when the hospital door has been adjusted to its program,” he explained.

According to Ashari, ITS has produced 12 RAISA robots, and to date and they have been used in six hospitals. Among them are Unair Hospital, Dr. Soetomo Regional Hospital, Surabaya Main Husada Hospital, Malang Saiful Anwar Hospital, Jakarta Athlete Hospital Emergency Hospital, and the Surabaya RSI. “We will always be ready for production with a capacity of 20 robots per month,” said Ashari.

Symbolic handover of RAISA by C D Sasongko, General Manager of PT Pertamina (Persero) MOR V (right) to Dr. H Samsul Arifin MARS, Director of RSI Surabaya – Ahmad Yani

Judging from the responses from various hospitals, RAISA was a great help. Ashari also asked for feedback in the form of constructive criticism and suggestions for the future performance of RAISA robots. The input is intended so RAISA can always be upgraded according to the necessary circumstances. “Assistance and services from ITS will always be there for the smooth operation of RAISA in the hospital,” he said.

Responding to Ashari, Dr. H Samsul Arifin MARS, Director of RSI Surabaya A Yani, expressed his happiness that RSI can collaborate with technology. The presence of RAISA has been highly anticipated and will significantly impact RSI because it can reduce the frequency of contact between health workers and COVID-19 patients.

Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (right) when explaining RAISA features to Dr. H Samsul Arifin MARS (center) and C D Sasongko

Until now, there are around 750 COVID-19 patients who have been treated at RSI. Five hundred patients have recovered, about 160 patients died, and the remaining patients who are still being treated in isolation rooms are 65-70 patients. With sorrow, Samsul Arifin also said that 60 health workers contracted COVID-19 while on duty. “We believe RAISA can maximize our performance in dealing with COVID-19 patients,” he hoped.

Samsul Arifin said that the two RAISA robots would be placed in two different rooms according to their specifications, namely the HCU and ICU rooms. RSI showed the hospital’s enthusiasm for RAISA’s arrival by sending six representatives of its health workers to attend RAISA operation training on 3 October. “Once we arrive at the hospital, we will immediately use RAISA,” he said.

(from left) dr H Samsul Arifin MARS, Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, Dr. Ir I Ketut Gunarta MT, and C D Sasongko

Meanwhile, C D Sasongko, General Manager of PT Pertamina (Persero) MOR V, is also very happy with the innovations ITS has launched. This time is the second CSR for a Pertamina to hook up with the RAISA robot. Previously, it was a CSR to the Husada Utama Hospital. “Who else, if not the medical party, should be supported,” he concluded.

(from left) Dr Ir I Ketut Gunarta MT, Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng ,, drg Laily Rachmawati Sp Perio, dr H Samsul Arifin MARS, and C D Sasongko