Humanoid Robots in Healthcare: The Future is Here—But Are We Ready?

By Bridget K. Burke

Picture this: You walk into a hospital, and instead of a receptionist, a friendly humanoid robot greets you and guides you to your appointment. Down the hall, another robot is delivering medications, saving nurses countless steps. Across town, a cheerful robot companion is chatting with seniors in a memory care facility, reminding them to take their medication and engaging them in conversation.

It sounds futuristic, right? But it’s already happening.

Humanoid robots—GenAI-enabled machines with human-like form designed to move, interact, and assist just like humans—are making their way into healthcare. Hospitals are deploying them to handle logistics and reduce staff burnout. Elder care facilities are testing them as companions to combat loneliness. Even rehabilitation centers are using them to encourage patients during physical therapy.

Tech giants are pouring billions into humanoid robotics, spotlighting healthcare as the perfect testing ground. Their pitch is compelling: imagine a humanoid that roams halls delivering lab samples or takes on the heavy lifting nurses do every day. But here’s the big question for healthcare leaders: Are humanoid robots ready for real-world patient care, or are we still in the “hype” phase?

At recent gatherings like the 2024 Humanoids Summit and the Consumer Electronics Show, robotics industry experts shared insights on what’s possible today, what’s still a work in progress, and what healthcare leaders should consider before integrating humanoid robots into their operations. 

“Making humanoids safe is the biggest barrier to adoption in hospital and home care settings,” warns Steve Cousins, Executive Director of the Stanford University Robotics Center. 

Even for routine tasks, clinical environments add complicated layers—like ensuring a robot won’t topple into a frail patient or inadvertently collect sensitive data. 

Evan Ackerman, Senior Editor at IEEE Spectrum-Robotics, echoed Cousins’ skepticism: “If you define a humanoid as a legged robot that provides value through manipulation, nobody has figured out how to make them work sustainably in any real-world setting yet. Even semi-structured warehouses are a challenge. Hospitals are even harder.”

In other words, the promise is huge, but so is the responsibility. “It takes a global ‘standards’ village to solve many of these problems,” says Aaron Prather, Director of Robotics and Autonomous Systems at ASTM International, reminding us that standards, regulations, and collaboration across industries are crucial before humanoids can fully integrate into day-to-day care.

So, for healthcare leaders, the question isn’t just “Can we use humanoid robots?” but rather, “Should we—and where do they actually add value?”

That’s exactly what we’ll explore in this article.

1. 1. Why Humanoid Robots?
   2. Where Humanoids are Making an Impact Today
   3. What Challenges Leaders Need to Consider
   4. How to Evaluate If Your Organization is “Robot Ready”
   5. Are We—as Leaders—Ready?

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether humanoid robots belong in your hospital, clinic, or home care program—and if so, how ready are you to implement these new “colleagues.”

1 | Why Humanoid Robots?

For decades, humanoid robots have been a sci-fi dream—think C-3PO diagnosing injuries in Star Wars or Baymax from Big Hero 6 providing personal healthcare. But today, real humanoid robots are stepping out of the lab and into hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.

Let’s be clear: we’re not talking about human-like androids performing surgery or replacing nurses. Instead, the humanoid robots making an impact today are task-specific assistants that help with routine, repetitive jobs—like delivering lab samples, guiding patients, or providing social interaction.

So, why not just use regular robots instead of humanoids? Why build machines with faces, arms, and human-like movement when simpler automation exists? Here’s why humanoids are intriguing for healthcare:

• They fit into human environments. Hospitals, clinics, and homes are built for people—hallways, elevators, door handles, and medical tools are all designed for human movement and interaction. A humanoid robot could, in theory, use existing infrastructure without major modifications.
• They feel more natural for patients and staff. Unlike a robotic cart or a metal arm on wheels, humanoid robots can interact in a way that feels more intuitive and comfortable for patients. Imagine an elderly patient receiving reminders from a robot with a warm, smiling digital face versus a disembodied voice from a speaker.
• They’re designed to multitask. A humanoid could (eventually) handle a variety of tasks—fetching supplies, checking patient vitals, and even providing companionship—without requiring multiple specialized machines.

2 | Where Humanoids are Making an Impact Today

Sounds promising, right? It’s tempting to think one shiny new robot can fix everything. But here’s the reality check: Humanoid robots are still early in development and there isn’t yet a one-size-fits-all robot solution for healthcare. And the ones currently working in healthcare are mostly in pilot programs or specialized roles. So, matching the right tech to the right task is where the magic really happens. Some environments are better suited for robots now, while others still pose significant challenges. Here’s where they stand in hospitals, home care, rehabilitation, and elder care today.

Hospitals: Logistics Over Hands-on Care

One of the most successful humanoid-like robots in hospitals today is Moxi by Diligent Robotics. It’s human-like form (an upright body on wheels with a friendly, expressive face display) makes it easy to integrate – as it can use the same doors and corridors as people, and their approachable appearance puts staff and patients at ease. Robots like Moxi are already transforming hospital workflows—not by replacing nurses but by delivering supplies and performing the routine errands that keep them from bedside care. According to Andrea Thomaz, CEO of Diligent Robotics, Moxi has been deployed in over 24 health systems and “has completed almost 1 million deliveries, saving staff an impressive 1.5 billion steps” – time nurses can spend with patients instead of walking miles for errands​.

Images L-R: Moxi, Diligent Robotics 

At Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Moxi reduced nurse walking by nearly 300 miles within weeks of its deployment, proving its ability to reduce staff burnout and improve efficiency. While at May Washington Hospital, administrators reported measurable ROI in efficiency and reduced burnout, as Moxi returned over 600 hours to care teams within just a few months at one site​. These early successes show that robots can reliably handle logistical tasks in structured hospital environments.

Beyond deliveries, some hospitals have tested humanoid robots for patient interaction at reception or triage. For instance, SoftBank’s robot Pepper has been trialed as a greeter and information aide in hospital lobbies, and other prototypes assist with room disinfection or vital sign checks. While many of these are experimental, they highlight the growing presence of robots alongside doctors and nurses on the hospital floor.

Images L-R: Pepper, SoftBank  

However, humanoids are not yet performing direct clinical tasks. As robotics expert Evan Ackerman points out, no humanoid robot has successfully operated in the unpredictable environment of patient care. Hospitals are structured chaos—patients need to be lifted, emergency scenarios arise, and decision-making must be fluid. Current humanoids simply aren’t reliable enough for direct caregiving, but they excel in back-end support roles, such as logistics and cleaning.

Best use cases in hospitals today

• Supply runs & medication deliveries (Moxi)
• Patient wayfinding & check-in kiosks (Pepper, robotic assistants)

Home Care: The Challenge of Unstructured Environments

Despite the vision of humanoid robots assisting the elderly at home, no general-purpose humanoid has successfully entered private homes at scale. Unlike hospitals, homes present unpredictable challenges—pets underfoot, cluttered rooms, unpredictable layouts, stairs– posing a nightmare for today’s robot navigation and manipulation algorithms. Current humanoid robots struggle with real-world adaptability. As Ackerman puts it, “none of these robots are anywhere close to operating in homes… home environments are too unpredictable, and the robots are not reliable enough.”

That said, companies are working on it. Hanson Robotics, for example, developed Grace, a humanoid robot nurse assistant with an expressive face, designed specifically to interact with isolated seniors at home or in care facilities​. Grace can speak multiple languages, take temperature readings with a built-in thermal camera, and even lead simple talk therapy sessions​. “I can visit with people and brighten their day with social stimulation… and also do talk therapy, take bio readings and help healthcare providers,” the robot Grace told one interviewer​. 

The goal is for such human-like companions to provide check-ins and basic health monitoring for homebound patients. Early trials are promising in terms of patient engagement – a human-like appearance “facilitates trust and natural engagement because we are wired for human face-to-face interactions,” explains Dr. David Hanson, Grace’s creator​.

Images L-R: Grace, Hanson Robotics; Paro, SoftBank; Aibo, Sony

Still, home-use humanoids face high costs (Grace’s developers note current prototypes cost as much as a luxury car​) and safety concerns (a 5-foot-tall robot must not topple over on Grandma). For now, most home care robots remain simpler devices—like Paro the seal and Aibo the dog (therapeutic robotic pets) along with medication dispensers and robotic vacuums. But as technology improves, we may soon see more humanoid assistants helping seniors and chronically ill patients live independently at home. 

Where home robots make sense today

• Telepresence robots for remote check-ins (screen-based robots for virtual doctor visits)
• Voice assistants for reminders and companionship (Alexa, Google Home)
• Basic robotic pets for emotional support (Paro, Aibo)

Rehabilitation: Robotics Augmenting Therapy

Rehabilitation centers are integrating robots in several exciting new ways. Therapists are experimenting with humanoid robots like Baxter and NAO as therapy assistants and coaches. The idea is to leverage robots’ consistency and patience for repetitive training exercises. For example, researchers have used the humanoid Baxter robot to work with stroke survivors on arm exercises – first learning movements from a human therapist, then guiding patients through rehab routines​.

Images L-R: Baxter, Rethink Robotics; Nao, Aldebaran

Studies indicate that even long robot-assisted therapy sessions are acceptable to patients and can keep them engaged in their exercises​. In one study, a humanoid therapy robot’s interactions were found to be largely comparable to a human therapists’, and patients remained motivated throughout the session​. Such results suggest humanoid robots could help address the shortage of rehab professionals by handling some routine therapy tasks. A robot can, for instance, lead a patient through guided practice of movements or provide feedback on form, freeing human therapists to focus on higher-level care planning. 

Outside of physical therapy, socially assistive humanoid robots have also been used to encourage patients in rehabilitation for cognitive or motor impairments – for instance, helping children with cerebral palsy stay engaged with remote therapy exercises​. While these rehab robots don’t need a fully human form, having a vaguely human or friendly presence (like a screen face or two arms to demonstrate exercises) can make the interaction more relatable. 

Rehabilitation is a promising niche: the tasks are structured and repetitive, perfect for automation, yet require personal encouragement, which a personable humanoid robot can attempt to provide. As technology evolves, we may see dedicated “robot therapists” working alongside human therapists to increase the intensity and frequency of patient training in recovery programs.

Best use cases in rehabilitation today

• Physical therapy coaching (Baxter, NAO)
• Cognitive rehabilitation for stroke patients
• Exercise engagement for children with mobility challenges

Elder Care: Companionship with a Side of Assistance

With global aging and caregiver shortages, robots are being explored as companions and activity facilitators in elder care settings. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, loneliness and social isolation are big challenges. Humanoid social robots like Mirokaï (Enchanted Tools) and Nadine (NTU Singapore) are being introduced to fill some of this gap by engaging residents in conversation, games, or simply being a friendly presence. Jérôme Monceaux, CEO of Enchanted Tools, describes how his company’s humanoid companions Miroka and Miroki are designed to emotionally uplift patients and help staff: “They provide companionship that reduces feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety that are common among elderly residents in care facilities,” he explains​. These child-sized robots can interact with humor and empathy – their big, soft eyes and gentle gestures were purposefully designed to be comforting across ages and cultures​.

Images L-R: Mirokaï (Miroka and Miroki), Enchanted Tools; Nadine, NTU Singapore

In practice, robots like the Mirokaï might chat with an older adult about their day, remind them to take medication, or lead a group activity like a simple exercise or trivia game. This social engagement can stimulate mental activity and lift spirits. At the same time, the robot can handle small tasks for caregivers. Monceaux notes that Mirokaï robots will “take over simple but repetitive routine tasks, such as reminders of events or carrying loads of up to 6.6 pounds…freeing staff to focus on more complex and personalized aspects of patient care.”​ 

In Japan and some Western countries, earlier robots like SoftBank’s Pepper and Paro the seal (a therapeutic robotic pet) have already been used to comfort dementia patients and encourage social interaction​. The humanoid approach takes this further by providing a more relatable human-like presence. In one study, 82% of healthcare professionals at a Paris geriatric hospital believed robots like Mirokaï could provide valuable support.

Of course, not every elderly person welcomes a robot; some may find it intrusive or uncanny. But many pilots have found that residents treat the friendly robot as “one of the group,” sometimes even dancing hand-in-hand with it during recreational therapy sessions​. Elder care robots, when thoughtfully introduced, have the potential to reduce loneliness and supplement overworked staff – adding a bit of “joy and magic,” as Monceaux puts it, to care facilities​. However, an ethical question lingers in my mind: Does relying on robots for companionship dehumanize eldercare, or does it fill an otherwise unmet need?

Best use cases in elder care today 

• Companionship and cognitive stimulation (Mirokaï, Nadine)
• Reminder systems for medication, hydration, daily activities
• Group activities and entertainment in nursing homes

Finding the Right Fit

In healthcare, the range of daily tasks is vast—from cleaning and logistics to patient engagement and bedside care. Maybe you just need a little help with supply runs or perhaps you’re looking for a friendly ‘face’ to engage pediatric patients; other times a basic wheeled rover or a kiosk is even just enough–or no robot at all. It’s not about chasing “the coolest robot” or use one robot for everything—it’s about solving real problems in the most practical way possible. Here’s a quick guide on matching the task to the tech (Table 1).

Table 1: Matching the task to the tech.

Generally, Humanoid robots should be considered when the human form itself provides a unique benefit – typically in interacting with people or using tools and spaces exactly as a person would. Today, hospitals and rehabilitation centers see the most practical benefit from humanoid robots for logistical tasks and targeted therapy respectively. In contrast, unstructured environments like private homes remain least ready, primarily due to reliability and safety hurdles​. Elder care facility use cases lie in between – there have been successful pilots improving social engagement​, but scaling these up requires overcoming cost, technical, and human-factor barriers. 

For purely logistical or technical tasks, non-humanoid robots or other automation might achieve the same result more simply and cheaply. For example, deploying wheeled delivery robots for supply transport, while piloting a humanoid in a patient engagement role. The goal is not to use a humanoid robot for its own sake, but to solve a problem in the best way possible. Sometimes that will be a humanoid; many times, it will not.

3 | What Challenges Leaders Need to Consider 

Rolling out robots in a hospital or elder care setting isn’t as simple as just plugging them in and watching the magic happen. There are the real-world hurdles that come with integrating them into healthcare and serious challenges—from safety and reliability to data privacy and workforce acceptance—that healthcare leaders must navigate before adoption.

Safety & Reliability 

Humanoid robots move, interact, and make decisions in real-world environments—and that comes with serious risks. A robot malfunctioning in a hospital could cause serious harm. Any tech failure in a healthcare setting is a big deal. Unlike medical devices, humanoid robots currently lack standardized safety regulations for hospital or home use. What happens if a humanoid robot malfunctions, knocking over a frail patient or getting stuck in a high-traffic hallway? If a robot makes a mistake, who is liable—the hospital, the manufacturer, or the software company? 

Healthcare environments also have unique risks (for instance, oxygen-rich rooms where a spark could cause fire), so standards must cover those scenarios​. Regulatory bodies are only beginning to develop these frameworks, until robust standards and testing are in place, widespread adoption remains risky and healthcare providers should approach humanoid robots cautiously.

Data Privacy & Security 

Many humanoid robots come with cameras, microphones, GenAI-driven decision making and the ability to collect massive amounts of personal patient (and staff) data (vital signs, interaction logs, etc.). This raises huge concerns about privacy and data protection–yet there are no clear opt-out policies for patients or staff. A robot that roams a hospital could inadvertently capture sensitive info or conversations. Worse, if a hospital robot is hacked, sensitive patient data could be exposed. Who owns the data a care robot collects, is it stored securely, who is liable? 

Healthcare leaders need to ensure any robot deployed complies with patient privacy laws (like HIPAA in the U.S.) and that patients consent to being assisted or observed by a machine. Designers are looking at on-device processing (so data isn’t constantly uploaded to the cloud) and clear indicators (like a light when cameras are recording) to mitigate privacy issues. But current cybersecurity protocols lag behind the pace of GenAI-driven automation, leaving significant vulnerabilities.

Staff Acceptance & Job Concerns 

When robots show up at work, people start wondering: Are they here to help, or replace us? While these robots are marketed as tools to support healthcare workers, staff skepticism remains high. If not implemented thoughtfully, robots could be seen as an attempt to replace human workers rather than assist them. Healthcare leaders must communicate that the goal is augmentation, not replacement. In fact, new categories of jobs may emerge (robot coordinators in units, robot maintenance technicians). Healthcare leaders must balance efficiency gains with maintaining human-centered care.

Ethical Considerations 

Beyond safety, security, and staffing concerns, humanoid robots raise deeper ethical questions how human-like robots might affect human emotions and behaviors. Some worry that if elderly or lonely patients become too attached to robotic companions, it could distort their sense of reality or reduce human-human contact. Others argue that given the shortage of caregivers, some companionship is better than none – the robot is a bridge, not a barrier, to human connection. Ethicists also discuss the dignity of patients: for example, is it respectful to have a robot feed or bathe a person, or would they feel dehumanized? 

Cultural differences matter here; in some cultures, being cared for by a machine might feel offensive, in others it may be welcomed to reduce burden on family. Ensuring human autonomy is key – robots should not override a person’s free will or medical choices. They are tools to assist, not decision-makers (outside of narrow AI like medication dispensers). 

Transparency is also important: patients should know when they are interacting with a machine (most humanoids are obviously mechanical, but as they become more life-like, clear disclosure is needed to avoid deception). Ethical implementation means considering all these angles – safety, privacy, emotional well-being, and employment – and proceeding in a transparent, patient-centered way.

4 | How to Evaluate If Your Organization is “Robot Ready”

So, you have read this far (thank you!) and you’re still intrigued by humanoid robots in healthcare. You understand the potential, the efficiency gains, the patient engagement benefits, the challenges and limitations. But, is your organization actually ready to adopt them? 

Rolling out humanoid robots requires more than just interest and investment— it requires careful evaluation and planning. Before jumping in, healthcare leaders should assess their readiness across the five key areas highlighted below in Table 2.

Table 2: Organizational readiness key questions. 

Humanoid robots aren’t replacing human caregivers—but they are powerful assistants. Today, their biggest value is in logistics (Moxi), patient engagement and therapy (Mirokaï). With the right approach, robots could enhance care, reduce burnout, and support the human workforce—not complicate it. But success depends on thoughtful, strategic integration—not just added for the sake of technology.

• If your organization is ready, start with proven use cases (hospital logistics, patient engagement) in a small pilot program before scaling up. 
• If there are gaps, focus on staff training, IT improvements, privacy, safety, and ROI evaluation before investing. 
• If you’re unsure, keep an eye on developments and reassess in 1–2 years—humanoid robots are evolving fast.

For now, the best strategy is smart, selective adoption—choosing use cases where robots can truly add value without disrupting human care.

5 | Are We—as Leaders—Ready?

Humanoid robots are no longer just sci-fi talk; they’re in our hospitals and care homes today, rolling down halls, flashing digital smiles, and lending a “hand” (sometimes literally) to our healthcare teams. For healthcare leaders, the prospect of these robots sparks both excitement and caution. On one hand, we envision alleviating staff burnout, filling service gaps, and delighting patients with cute or helpful automatons. On the other hand, we wrestle with the risks – technical, financial, ethical – and the simple question: “Are we really ready for this?”

This exploration has shown that the answer is not a simple yes or no. It’s more like: “We can be ready, if we ask the right questions and take thoughtful steps.” Humanoid robots offer very real advantages: they can streamline operations (a robot doesn’t get pulled into an urgent phone call or take a lunch break, it just keeps delivering those lab samples), and they can bring joy (who wouldn’t smile at a friendly robot that knows your name and favorite music?). In an era of clinician burnout and aging populations, these aren’t trivial benefits – they can translate to saved lives and improved well-being by extending the reach of our limited human workforce.

Yet, every advantage comes with a caveat. The robot that tirelessly delivers labs might also tirelessly record hallway chatter – raising privacy issues we must tackle. The charming companion that makes a dementia patient laugh might also confuse another patient who doesn’t understand what this futuristic machine is. The key is balance: integrating robots in ways that amplify the human touch, not replace it.

For healthcare leaders – who value excellence, ethics, and inclusion – adopting a humanoid robot should feel like living those values, not betraying them. That means ensuring these robots are used to improve patient care and equity, not just for tech novelty. It means involving diverse voices in planning so the solution works for everyone – doctors, nurses, IT, patients, families. It means keeping our standards high: demanding evidence (and citing it) that a robot will indeed solve the problem we aim to solve (and not create new ones), and having the courage to say “not yet” if it doesn’t.

One can imagine a near future – perhaps within the next five years – where a humanoid robot becomes as common in certain hospital departments as an IV pump. Perhaps your hospital’s next “hire” on the med-surg floor is a robot named “Rossi” who works alongside the team, known and loved by staff and patients alike for easing the load and brightening the atmosphere.

Think of humanoid robots not as something outlandish—they are neither panacea nor plague—they are tools, impressively advanced but still just tools. The latest innovation to be evaluated like any other. Just as we did with electronic health records or telemedicine, we ask the tough questions upfront, involve the people who matter, weigh the pros and cons, plan the implementation, and keep the focus on why we’re doing it – to improve care. When a new technology aligns with that, and we handle the transition ethically, leaders can introduce robots in a way that earns trust and delivers value.

So, will every hospital have humanoid helpers by this time next year? Unlikely. But might many have them in some form in the next few years? Quite possibly, yes – especially if leaders like you approach the decision with informed optimism. The robots are coming, and in some places, they’ve arrived. As you consider whether a humanoid robot has a role in your organization, let your values guide you: keep it ethical, keep it inclusive, and always aim for excellence in the service of patients and communities. Do that, and you won’t go wrong – robot or no robot. 

The future of healthcare will undoubtedly feature humans and robots working side by side; it’s up to us to ensure that partnership is built on a foundation of respect, safety, and the unwavering goal of better health for all.

Bridget K. Burke is Principal Investigator at BridgetLab.ai, she serves on the HIMSS Global Professional Development Council, and is a member of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and the CAHL Communications Committee. She is a passionate advocate for making AI accessible, safe, and user-friendly for healthcare professionals. She enjoys exploring innovative technologies and sharing practical advice to help others navigate the evolving world of AI. Connect with Bridget on LinkedIn and Direct Message her your AI questions, she may answer them in a future article.