Digitalization in Healthcare:
Although I’ve only worked in healthcare for about four and a half years, I’ve already witnessed changes in how digital systems are used. In my current role, I rely on various applications and electronic systems to document and coordinate care. One of our core tools is Apotti, electronic client and patient record system, which we use to track treatments, services, and care plans for our customers most of whom are over 75 years old.
The volume of data, like diagnoses, medications, care notes, and assessments can be overwhelming at times. It’s not always easy to go through hospital notes or home care documentation quickly, especially when critical information is buried within long records. These digital tools help centralize information, but there’s still a lot of manual effort required to find what’s relevant in a short amount of time. It is something has been often talked about at my workplace.
The use of AI is definitely what I’m most interested in. I spend a lot of time reading about it in both work and personal contexts. In the past year, I’ve grown more interested in how artificial intelligence could help in my work. I imagine a tool that could highlight key risks or summarize important trends in a customer’s care history all in one place. This would save time for more meaningful conversations with the customer and their family. It’s often frustrating for everyone involved when the same information has to be repeated just because it’s hidden deep in the system.
I’ve read about the use of AI in that way in hospitals and clinics, where doctors and nurses use it to help review patient histories and support decision-making. I believe this same potential exists in my work and other areas of healthcare. Smart ways to use AI could save time and benefit both customers and workers. However, it’s important that people learn how to use these tools properly and understand AI in general, since many still don’t know much about it.
In my workplace, we’re about to start testing an AI assistant that helps us quickly find regulations and guides related to our job. I really hope it becomes a permanent tool and doesn’t just stop after the three-month testing period. There are tons of different guides we use for our work, and this AI assistant could save us a lot of time digging through them. And again, that means more time to focus on talking with the customers.
Reflections on GDPR:
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 is definitely significant turning point. As someone who spends a lot of time online, I have become more aware of my digital footprint. I now think twice before signing up for services and I pay more attention to cookie policies and privacy settings. Which is something I used to ignore or just didn’t know much about.
While digitalization makes life more connected and convenient, it is important not everything should be shared freely. Since I’m online so much, I’ve come to really appreciate the importance of digital responsibility. On the downside, it can mean more steps just to access or sign up for something. But if these steps mean stronger data protection, I believe it’s worth it!
In healthcare, we deal with extremely sensitive personal data, so data protection is obviously very important. We must have clear patient consent and follow strict access controls. This has added new responsibilities to our roles, but also a I would say reassuring sense of structure and safety. If I were the patient, I’d feel a lot safer knowing how carefully the rules are followed.
Testing ChatGPT:
I have used ChatGPT quite a lot, but it was interesting to test it specifically for this course. I tested ChatGPT by asking it a few questions related to elder care and digital tools in home healthcare. I think the answers were pretty clear and informative. For example, it could describe common challenges in elderly care, explain trends in digital healthcare, and offer suggestions on how to solve issues that might appear when working with the elderly.
I asked ChatGPT about a made-up story about my client who was a lifelong vegan but, due to dementia, wanted to eat meat. I asked what should I do and tell her family. I also asked ChatGPT about a client living alone who couldn’t manage medication, felt lonely, and didn’t have any support system. I asked what would I do in these situations and how could I as professional help them. The AI even gave me direct quotes of what I could tell the client.
I think the answers gave good ideas how to handle the situation. I didn’t see anything inaccurate in them. But the answers lacked depth and didn’t provide much beyond what I had already considered. And obviously in both of these scenarios, it’s obvious that I need to know how to talk to the person, listen carefully, and be understanding, to “read the room.” Even if I have general guidance from AI. It’s helpful, yes, but it’s not going to replace me!
I see a lot of potential in AI, but we need to use it wisely. There is many ways it can save time and be a support tool. I think everyone should eventually learn how to use AI tools, but also understand their limitations and never rely on them blindly. It’s easy to be impressed by its quick answers, but that also makes it easy to trust without verifying. This is why we need critical thinking and fact-checking. Just because AI can provide tons of information doesn’t mean everything it says should be taken at face value without professional checking.
Self-Evaluation:
Through writing this blog text, I learned how rapidly digitalization is evolving. The materials in this course showed how much is already happening around us, how much we already know and can do with technology. It is interesting to see how quickly everything is changing and advancing. It was also interesting to explore the GDPR in more depth and to realize its importance in both my professional responsibilities and personal digital habits.
Reading other students’ reflections was very interesting. It was interesting to see how people in different roles and fields experience digitalization in their daily work. I want to continue improving in my digital skills. I’m particularly interested in cybersecurity and data protection and the role of AI in healthcare decision-making. I’d also like to learn more about digital ethics and critical thinking in relation to AI-generated content.
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