Ctrl + Alt + (Digi)Society: Digitalization in healthcare and BEYOND
Digitalization is no longer just a trend, it is a fundamental part of how we work, communicate and deliver services. Having worked for over a decade as a pediatric nurse and now for the past 3,5 years transitioned into an ICT-focused role in healthcare, I have had the opportunity to experience digitalization from both clinical and technical perspectives. This shift has given me a deeper understanding of how digital tools shape not only workflows but also patient care, safety and efficiency.
In this post, I reflect on how digitalization is visible in my field, what future developments might look like and what risks and responsibilities come with living in an open digital society.
Digitalization in my field of expertise
In my previous role as a pediatric nurse, digitalisation was already present in daily work through electronic patient record systems, digital documentation and communication tools. However, the systems often felt like tools that supported the work rather than actively improving it. Sometimes it even felt like the “necessary evil” that just needed to be done and all the time I have to use the tools were time off the patient encounters.
In my current role within an ICMT organization, I now work on maintaining and developing a mobile healthcare application and a shared mobile device solution designed specifically for healthcare environments. These devices enable secure use of applications that process sensitive patient data and integrate directly with patient record systems.
This has changed my perspective significantly. Digitalization is no longer just a background system, it is more of a core enabler of care delivery and improves the work for example: Mobile solution allows healthcare professionals to access patient data in real time.
BUT, the coin always has two sides: At the same time, digitalization introduces complexity. Systems must be reliable, secure and easy to use in high-pressure environments. Even small usability issues can impact workflow and, in worst cases, patient safety. AND of course the risks and vulnerabilities that comes with technology. More about this later on in the blog.
(Back to the) Future of digitalization in healthcare
“Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me that you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?!”
While time machines might be what future holds, lets fine tune the binoculars a little bit closer to the “near future”. 😂 Looking ahead, digitalisation in healthcare will likely continue to evolve rapidly. Based on both experience and broader trends, several key developments can be expected:
- AI supports clinical decision-making and becomes more and more integrated into every days work
- Automation becomes the mainstream factor on routine documentation and particular tasks that can be automated
- Mobile-first strategy becomes a standard in healthcare
- Remote care and telemedicine gives more opportunities to treat patients
AI, in particular, has strong potential. It can assist in analyzing patient data, identifying risks and supporting clinical decisions. However, AI should be seen as a support tool rather than a replacement for professionals.
Still the main thing we need to remember is that healthcare is about people, for example: Empathy, communication, caring and ethical choices cannot be automated or replaced.
WE STILL NEED HUMANS TO MAKE HEALTHCARE WORK! 🙋♂️
Risks of open digital society
An open digital society enables innovation, accessibility and collaboration. However, it also introduces significant risks, especially in healthcare where sensitive data is involved, because it opens a back door to access the data remotely. You don’t have to go to the archive anymore to steal the papers, because it’s all digitalized and accessible remotely.
Key risks:
- Data breaches and cybersecurity threats
- Misuse of sensitive patient data
- Dependence on digital systems
In my current work, security is a constant priority. Devices and applications must meet strict requirements to ensure that patient data is protected at all times. Even a small vulnerability can have serious consequences.
GDPR in practice
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has had a major impact on both personal and professional life.
From personal perspective it increased the awareness of data privacy, which is a good thing, but also made changes to the use of every day digital services.
Let me ask you, do you like Cookies? I think that the vast majority replies that “Who doesn’t?”. Well, let me rephrase this: Do you like (GDPR)Cookies? I mean the ones that you need to eat (accept) on every site you visit in the internet. The answer might be the opposite of the chocolate chip cookie question.
Now from the professional perspective, it raised the awareness of security and documentation in daily work and gave strict policies of handling patient data. In healthcare, GDPR is not just a regulation or an acronym, it is a critical part of daily work. Handling patient data requires constant awareness and even small mistakes can lead to serious consequences.
Let’s put some Pro’s and Con’s into the table
| Pro’s | Con’s |
| Stronger data protection | More administrative work |
| Increases trust in digital environments | Slower implementation of new applications or solutions |
| Gives clear guidelines | Although clear guidelines, they might still increase complexity |
Overall, GDPR has significantly improved data protection, but it also requires continuous effort and understanding from professionals.
AI, more precisely ChatGPT, in this case
As part of this assignment, I tested ChatGPT by asking questions related to healthcare applications, mobile solutions and digital workflows.
The responses were well structured and easy to understand. I found them somewhat useful for gaining quick insights and for brainstorming. Answers were more or less in general level and may not deep dive into the context-specific level.
If I use some follow up questions and start to guide ChatGPT deeper, it started to give more accurate responses.
In my current work, I also have access to an internal AI solution, which can process large amounts of organization-specific data. When used with the right prompts, it can provide much more accurate and relevant answers compared to general AI tools and it really saves time in different tasks.
I think that AI has strong potential to improve efficiency, support on decision making and reduces the manual work, BUT it should always be used as a support tool, not as a primary decision maker.
Am I different than before this assignment?
YES, definitely yes. This assignment helped me reflect on digitalization from a broader perspective. While I work with digital solutions daily, writing this post made me think more critically about their impact on society and individuals. Here’s some main bullets:
- The role of AI as a support tool
- Interconnection of digitalization across different sectors
- (GDPR)Cookies
After this assignment I want to deepen my knowledge in:
- Data security of healthcare systems
- AI potential in clinical workflows
Overall, this assignment strengthened both my understanding of digitalization and my ability to reflect on its real-world impact.
Blogs commented by me:
You had written a very interesting blog post on the topic. I also work as a nurse, although at a different stage of the human life cycle, but the benefits and challenges of digitalization are quite similar regardless of the patient group. You had analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of GDPR in healthcare very thoroughly. The text was written in an engaging and personal way.
You had also discussed the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and I agree with you that AI is a very useful tool, for example in supporting decision-making. However, in healthcare, AI can hopefully never completely replace human professionals.