DIGI SOCIETY

The impact of digitalisation in my work

I believe that the healthcare sector is one of the areas where digitalisation has had the biggest and fastest impact. When I started my career in specialised healthcare, digitalisation was already to some extent part of our daily working life. Working hours spent in different departments were recorded digitally, but the software and the machines were very simple and outdated. The daily records of patient care were written down on the patient’s paper in pencil, and specifically in a particular colour pencil. In this way, the texts of the different professions could be distinguished from one another on the patient’s papers.

Today, every single thing about a patient or patient care is recorded digitally. I think this provides security both from the point of view of patient safety and the preservation of patient data. Patient data no longer lies on paper on desks and can only be accessed by authorised persons. Of course, misuse does occur, but that is why we have regular data security training in our organisation.

In addition to patient safety, digitalisation has made it easier and faster to share information. When patients’ test results are recorded in patient information systems, they can be easily and quickly accessed by other professionals as well as by the patients themselves. In my work at the University hospital, I used several different electronic information systems in my work daily, either to record patient-related or work-related issues. Some departments also have their separate programmes for recording patient data, so a lot of knowledge is required to use these programmes. We also have various pieces of equipment, such as a device for measuring the 6-minute walking test performed by a patient. The device records the patient’s data and monitors the patient’s heart rate, oxygen saturation and distance travelled, among other things. After the test, the data is uploaded to a computer in the patient’s file, where the doctors can see the results and draw their own conclusions.

A third benefit of digitalisation for the health sector is digital health services, such as digital care pathways. Digital care pathways allow patients to find information about their illnesses and their treatment, to interact with healthcare professionals and to record information about their illness or treatment. Today, patient consultations can also be carried out digitally, making it faster and easier for patients not to have to come to the clinic. Of course, such a consultation cannot be carried out in all situations, but for example, follow-up visits and updates on treatment situations are well suited to being carried out remotely.

Even though digitalisation is such a big part of the healthcare sector today, I believe it still has a lot to offer us. This is why I think that training in digitalisation is becoming increasingly important. In particular, patients who need help and care should have the necessary skills to use it, so that all patients receive an equal and fair service. In an increasingly digital society, there is a risk that people who do not know how to use all the technical devices and systems will miss out on the care they need.

Open digital society and GDPR

Our open digital society offers unlimited opportunities to access and share information, but it also puts us in an increasingly vulnerable position. We are exposed to security risks such as data leaks or cyber-attacks, our personal data can fall into the wrong hands, and we are increasingly dependent on different technological devices such as our smartphones. Today, losing a smartphone is a much bigger problem than losing a wallet, for example. Moreover, AI monitors and records our activities and is even able to steer us towards desired goals, for example, through targeted advertising. An open digital society also puts us at a disadvantage when skills or equipment are not equal. Not using digital services can exclude people from society.

The GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is Europe’s new data protection and security law, designed to protect and safeguard our privacy under the threat of severe fines. I think it is vital that we can trust that our personal data is safe with the people who process it and that we can decide for ourselves who can access our data. At the moment, the GDPR only affects my life with regard to my data and my children’s data. At the beginning of each academic year, the school sends out a long data protection form with a choice about how we share our data. I think I have also signed a GDPR agreement with the local medical centre for my data. In my daily life, I do not feel affected by GDPR at the moment.

Chat GPT

Although I have not used AI in my work, I believe it has many good uses in planning and implementing physiotherapy. For example, I asked Chat GPT how AI could be used in physiotherapy, and I got many possible options. The first ones that came to mind were, of course, remote rehabilitation and monitoring tools. Other interesting ways were systems for analysis and diagnostics, exercise programmes created by AI, using AI to identify risks such as falls or post-operative complications, and various training and simulations. I think that all these options were very much worth considering. In addition, Chat GPT mentioned the use of AI to support clinical decision-making. But it also pointed out that AI cannot replace decision-making by the physiotherapist, it is only intended to support it. I have to say that I was surprised by such good and relevant responses I received. However, I am always a little cautious with the answers provided by AI, as I do not dare to trust them completely.

Self-evaluation

I find digitalisation and its constant evolution both fascinating and frightening at the same time. Even if the laws and safeguards are otherwise in place, the mistakes people make can only be prevented by the people themselves. This is why training in using AI, security and data protection, and ethical issues will be even more important in the future. I believe that digitalisation will also increase in my own work in the future, which of course requires new skills and technology management. I feel that the course materials have both brought me new knowledge and opened my eyes more to digitalisation and its potential.

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