EPLATFORMS
As I have mentioned, I work as a pharmacist in a pharmacy. Pharmacies use operating systems designed for pharmacy work. There are currently three different operating systems in use in Finland for prescription processing. It depends on the pharmacy which system is used. And of course, using each different system requires its own training. In addition to processing prescriptions, pharmacists use many different databases daily in their work. Different databases are mostly needed either to find information or to verify information. Tools that are used mostly:
- Terveysportti, Kela, Fimea – the most important sources of information
- Outlook, Teams, Intranet, Microsoft office – work-related communication, training, information
- Whatsapp – communication within your own work team
- YouTube – device guidance
- Pharmacy website – product information and product range
- OmaKanta, Maisa, Pharmacy application – customer assistance
Utilization of New Digital Tools
Five tools and how I could utilize them at my work:
Facebook could be used in 3 different ways, for example. The pharmacy’s own Facebook page, where you could inform customers about opening hours and campaigns. A private group for pharmacy professionals where you could exchange information with other pharmacists (source of information). It could also be used for networking and posting job openings. Then a public group where people could anonymously ask pharmacists about medications. That would provide reliable information from professionals to people.
Why: Facebook is a good place to share information and reach many people at once. Opportunity to network.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT offers new possibilities and can make work more efficient, but you need to have the knowledge to utilize it. In daily pharmacy work, it could be used, for example, in marketing. It could be useful in content production. Artificial intelligence also analyzes content quickly, so it can also be used to collect data from social media. Artificial intelligence can also make predictions about future trends based on its data, which can help, for example, in planning campaigns. It can also be used to find the causes of certain symptoms, and it also finds the mechanisms of action of drugs surprisingly well, but this is exactly where the right professionalism and source criticism are needed.
Why: the benefit here would be to increase the efficiency of the work.
I have seen that many doctors have set up their own Instagram accounts where they share information. So, I’ve been thinking that a pharmacist could also set up an account where to share professional information and tips. A pharmacy could also set up its own Instagram account. It would provide an easy way to share and update information about the pharmacy. For example, opening hours, campaigns, disruption reports. Also, one way to market the pharmacy.
Why: Sharing information and reaching many people quickly.
LinkedIn provides a good platform for professionals to network. It also allows you to share information and news and take a stand on issues. It also expands employment opportunities. Many companies post job advertisements there that are not displayed elsewhere. Many companies provide information on current issues there, so it helps you get information about important issues in your own industry.
Why: to share the latest information with colleagues. Networking and new job opportunities.
DeepL
This is a completely new platform for me. Thank you for this assignment. This is one of the best discoveries in a long time. This can definitely be used in daily work in a pharmacy. There are customers from many different cultures, and the language barrier is often a big problem. This can help with communication and providing medication advice in different languages. This can help ensure that the client has understood what has been instructed.
Why: comprehensive translation tool, enables better communication.
The use of Social Media: the positive and negative side.
Positive aspects:
Sharing news and information: One of the biggest advantages is conveying of information and communication. It helps to reach many people quickly. People get information about current matters.
Networking: For professionals, social media and various electronic platforms offer opportunities for networking and exchanging information and experiences (for example LinkedIn, Facebook groups).
Education: Electronic platforms also offer opportunities for training regardless of location.
General communication: enables communication regardless of place and time.
Negative aspects:
Maintaining data protection: one of the most important things is data protection. You must be very careful about what information you share, where you share it and how you present it. Personal information can also be misused. Cybersecurity awareness is important.
Source criticism and misunderstanding: there is so much different information shared on social media, so you need to be able to be critical of the source. Where does the information come from, is the source reliable? Many people are deficient in this, so they easily believe false information. Also, people interpret things differently and there is always a risk of misunderstanding.
Addictive/distraction: social media is highly addictive and can impact negatively on work and social relationships.
Lack of skills and knowledge: not everyone has the same level of expertise in using different platforms and applications. Causes Inequality.
The elements of successful use of digital application
For a digital application or platform to be functional, it must be built to be easy to use. Navigation in the application should also be easy. It is not user-friendly if you cannot find relevant information quickly and the application or platform is unclear. Therefore, it would also be good if there is either a customer service representative to assist with usage (for example chat) and, if necessary, there would also be a frequently asked questions section, which also offers support for usage. In short, help and guidance for use is available if needed. It is also important that the application or platform is secure, especially if personal data is processed there. The user must be able to trust that their personal data is protected and safe. It is good to design an application or platform so that different users can use it, regardless of the device. It is important that the application or platform is designed to meet the needs.
Conclusions & Self-evaluation
Through this assignment, I got to know many new social media tools. Most of the tools that I knew were more familiar to me based on personal use. Healthcare processes so much personal data that it limits the possibilities of using these various social media tools. But this assignment allowed me to think about how these social media tools could potentially be utilized at work. The use of social media platforms has increased in recent years also in healthcare. Because social media platforms reach so many people, they could be utilized especially in sharing the right information. Many people ask neighbors and Google for health advice instead of professionals. Social media platforms can be used to convey information to both professionals and people. The assignment also made me realize how little I know about these different social media platforms/tools. So, I need to increase my knowledge about them and familiarize myself with the features of the different platforms. To get the most out of these different social media platforms, you need to know how to use them. Not all applications are free, either.
Although social media makes communication and connection easier, it also reduces face-to-face interaction. Face-to-face encounters are more intense and informative, as you can see the other person’s expressions, gestures, and emotional state better. You can connect better with another person when you meet them in person.
Thank you for reading my blog! 😊
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