I was born in the late 1970 century. When I was a teenager digitalization started to crow. I remember, that my family’s first computer was for my father’s work. Because the use of an internet connection was very expensive then, no one else was allowed to use it . Nowadays, every member of my family has their own smartphone and ipad and they can use them almost unlimitedly.
I have clearly noticed the development of digitalization in working life as well. I started my working career about 20 years ago in a hospital environment. During this time, the amount of automation and digitazation have increased in my work. The advantage of digitalization is faster processes and test results are available faster in the requesting units. Electronic patient information systems enable the transfer of data between different units, which improves patient safety.
In the future more effective diagnostics methods will be developed. During this year I have got to know PulseOn-Arrhytmia Monitor System, which searches for asymptomatic cardiac arrhytmias. Atrial fibrallation (AF) is number one cause for strokes, so over 75% of the strokes may be prevented if AF is diagnosed in time. Wrist-worn device combining photospletysmography (PPG) and electrocardiography (ECG) can be reliably used for AF detection in an ambulatory setting (Saarinen ym. 2023).
The development of digitization has brought not only good things but also negative ones. I have always tried to emphasize my children that they must be careful in what they tell and post on the social media channels. After watching the video Andy Yen: Think your email’s private? Think again | TED Talk I am even more careful about my privacy. E-mail is like a postcard – I am sure I remember this forever.
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) entered into force on 2016 and it has been applied from 2018. GDPR has improved the protection of individuals and given more authority to decide how your personal data is used and handled. For example, The Irish Data Protection Commission has imposed a penalty fee on TikTok Technology Limited to it’s processing of personal data relating to child users.
It’s important to note that the field of healthcare and clinical physiology is dynamic, and new technologies and approaches are continually emerging. Digitalization enables healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients’ physiological parameters. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, can collect data on heart rate, blood pressure, sleep patterns, and activity levels. This data can be transmitted to healthcare professionals in real-time, allowing for early detection of abnormalities and timely interventions.
To be honest, I was nervous about taking the Digitalization course at first, but it turned out to be really intresting. The best of thing in this digitalization course was that I learned to make these pages and my english skills also developed on the same time. And of course, it was very intresting to read other student’s blog.
References:
Yen, Andy 2014. Think your email’s private? Think again. TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/andy_yen_think_your_email_s_private_think_again?language=en
Irish Data Protection Commission announces €345 million fine of TikTok | 15/09/2023 | Data Protection Commission. Viitattu 24.9.2023.
Saarinen, Harri J., Joutsen, Atte†, Korpi, Kirsi, Halkola, Tuomas, Nurmi, Marko, Hernesniemi, Jussi and Vehkaoja, Antti 2023. Wrist-worn device combining PPG and ECG can be reliably used for atrial fibrillation detection in an outpatient setting. Front. Cardiovasc. Med., 09 February 2023
Sec. Cardiac Rhythmology. Volume 10 – 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1100127. Viitattu 24.9.2023.
I visited and commented:
It was interesting to read your text. I was also born in the 1970s and have been a teenager when digitalization started to grow. There has been a lot of development over the last 20-30 years.
I also work in a hospital environment and I remember a time when there was no electronic patient information system. Patients’ information was written on papers. In the 2000s, hospitals were equipped with computers, electronic patient information system and all employees received an email address.
Digitalization has brought a lot of good things, but there are also risks. At work, we depend on computers and all information is in electronic systems. When electronic systems do not work, we do not have access to data. It can be a risk to patient safety.