I have worked in the social and healthcare sector for several years. During this time, I have been involved in and noticed the changes that have occurred in digitalization. The sector has transitioned from pen-and-paper documentation to electronic and mobile entries. Several applications have been launched for patients, including various chat services, other electronic services, and remote consultations. This certainly makes healthcare easier, but it also increases the burden on the system. It helps in the sense that there are many digital tools in the work, but it complicates matters because people are so reliant on computers. And there are always issues when the systems don’t work correctly or break down. Nowadays, I work in imaging, but the images are digital, and thus easily transferable from one place to another. Digitalization will continue to be increasingly visible in the sector, as in other industries. However, it will never replace a real human being.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a step in the right direction. We are quite vulnerable in this information society. If our personal information is under threat, it can be misused and turned against us. There are many frauds these days where attempts are made to steal our personal data and banking information. People need to be very cautious about where they provide their data. In healthcare, this is reflected in the strict regulation of who can access patient records. If unauthorized access is discovered, there are penalties.

ChatGPT is a familiar service. I have used it both for entertainment and as a tool for school assignments. Artificial intelligence is both frightening and fascinating at the same time. For example, in imaging, it could be used in the future to interpret images and identify abnormalities. It could potentially be more accurate at finding these than a human. On the other hand, can we ever fully trust AI? I don’t believe it could ever be perfect and would still make mistakes just like humans do.

I asked AI about the most common imaging procedures. The answer was:

• X-ray – One of the most common imaging methods used to examine bone injuries, fractures, and lung diseases such as pneumonia.
• MRI – Used to examine soft tissues such as muscles, joints, and the brain. MRI is particularly precise in detecting damage to the brain, spinal cord, and ligaments.
• CT scan – Used to detect more complex injuries such as strokes, head and abdominal injuries, and tumors. CT scans take multiple X-rays and combine them into a three-dimensional image using a computer.

I asked AI about the job description of a radiologic technologist. The answer was: The job of a radiologic technologist is diverse and requires technical expertise, precision, and customer service skills. A radiologic technologist, also known as an imaging therapist, works with radiological equipment and performs various imaging studies, including X-rays, mammography, and other imaging procedures.

The answers were correct, although I don’t recognize the term “imaging therapist.” AI can help with many things, but it should not be blindly trusted.

This task was interesting to complete, and it made me think about digitalization. In the future, AI will also be used on a larger scale. However, digitalization will never replace another human. For example, in elderly care, food machines, medication dispensers, remote care, and robots are in use, but the real caregiver is still the most important. But I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings.

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