ePLATFORMS

I am currently on a long parental leave, so my current “work” mostly consists of social media in my free time and the digital tools needed in everyday life. When I was working, I used several different digital tools, and depending on my job, social media was also part of my work. In future jobs, the use of different digital tools and social media will certainly increase even more. The type of work has a big impact on which tools can be used and how they can be used safely. For example, WhatsApp, which many people use in everyday life, is not allowed for work communication in many workplaces because of information security. It may be replaced by Signal or Microsoft Teams for instant messaging if the workplace does not have its own internal system. In healthcare, social media applications have started to be used for marketing and sharing information to reach people. However, it is important to be careful about what can and should be published on social media and to make sure that the necessary permissions are in place, for example for photographs. Employers define how social media can be used at work. It is also important to consider the content of posts made during free time if they are connected to your work. In many workplaces where I have worked, some kind of office software package from a service provider, for example Microsoft, has been used. In addition, there have been different patient information systems and other tools needed for the work, such as dictation, interpreting, monitoring applications, remote services, work shift planning, and so on.

Five Social Media Tools That Could Be Used in Daily Work

or this assignment, I chose YouTube, LinkedIn, DALL·E, Slack, and Todoist. I chose them because they represent different purposes and could also support work in healthcare. What these tools have in common is that, when used correctly, they can make work easier, provide new ways of working, and support professional development. At the same time, it is important to consider information security and data protection and to make sure that confidential information is not handled in services that are not suitable for it.

YouTube

YouTube is a video platform that could be used to share training materials and different instruction or presentation videos. In healthcare, it could be used to guide both patients and staff. Videos could be made about CPR, breastfeeding, introducing facilities, using digital services, and other topics where information is easier to give in video form. For some people, using digital services is easier to learn from a video than from written instructions.

A positive aspect is that videos are easy for everyone to access, and watching them usually does not require downloading an application or creating a user account. Videos can be watched on a computer, tablet, or phone whenever it is most convenient for the user. The same instructions can be used many times, reducing the need for staff to repeat the same guidance.

A negative aspect is that YouTube is a public platform, so published content must not contain patient information or other confidential information. In addition, not all health-related content on YouTube is reliable, so users should evaluate sources critically and mainly use material produced by trusted organisations. Videos also become outdated, and updating them requires work.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking service where users can maintain their professional profile or CV, follow current topics, and look for new job opportunities. The service allows users to connect with other professionals and follow posts from employers or professional organisations.

A positive aspect is that LinkedIn helps people develop their professional skills, find training opportunities, and follow open job positions. It can also help build a professional profile and create new professional contacts. It is used even more in many other fields.

A negative aspect is that the service does not directly support daily patient care. However, training and information found there can bring new knowledge to patient care. Users should also think carefully about what personal information they publish and avoid sharing information related to patient cases or confidential workplace matters.

DALL·E

DALL·E is an artificial intelligence tool that creates images from text descriptions. In healthcare, it could be used to create illustrations for training materials, patient instructions, presentations, and information materials. Images could be used to explain topics such as hand hygiene, healthy lifestyles, first aid situations, or treatment processes.

A positive aspect is that images can be created quickly for a specific purpose without searching image libraries or drawing them by hand. Illustrations can make it easier for patients to understand information and make training materials more interesting.

A negative aspect is that AI-generated images do not always fully match reality. They should not be used without carefully checking that they match what is needed, and they should only be used to illustrate topics. In addition, real patient information or identifiable personal data must not be used in the images. There should also be a note saying that the image was created with AI.

Slack

Slack is a communication and collaboration platform that allows teams to communicate, share files, and work together. In healthcare, it could be used in development projects, training, and multidisciplinary cooperation.

A positive aspect is that Slack allows fast communication and makes cooperation easier because discussions can be organised into different channels for different topics. Sharing files and instructions is easy, and the service offers many integration options with other tools.

In Finland, similar functions in healthcare are often handled with Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft services. Because of this, Slack may not provide significant additional benefits in organisations where Microsoft services are already widely used. However, Slack could be a good alternative in organisations that need many integrations with different systems or where Microsoft services are not used. Slack has a free basic version and paid versions.

A negative aspect is that constant notifications can interrupt work. In addition, patient information or other confidential information must not be handled in the service without appropriate information security solutions and by following the organisation’s guidelines.

Todoist

Todoist is a task management application that can be used to plan and follow personal work tasks and set reminders. A nurse could use it to organise training, development tasks, meetings, and other personal work tasks.

A positive aspect is that Todoist helps with time management, remembering important tasks, and keeping work organised. It can reduce forgotten tasks and make work planning easier.

A negative aspect is that patient information or other confidential information should not be stored in the application. In addition, using many different applications can make work more fragmented if tasks are managed in several different systems. Many employers already use their own task management and calendar systems, so there may not be a need for a separate application, or it could create unnecessary extra costs.

Successful Use of a Digital Application

The most important thing is to provide clear training when the application is introduced. It is important to make sure that everyone using the application really knows how to use it for its intended purpose. It is also important to explain what should be done if the application is accidentally used incorrectly or if important workplace information is exposed through the application. Applications should be simple enough that daily use supports work instead of making it more difficult. If people see that using the application benefits their work, they are also more likely to use it.

Self-Assessment

This assignment reminded me how many different digital applications already exist. Many of them offer very similar features or are designed for almost the same purpose. Most of the tools were already familiar to me by name or by their purpose, but this assignment made me think about their possible use in working life from a new perspective.

In healthcare, the use of different applications is often more limited than in many other fields because patient care requires a strong focus on information security, data protection, and the correct handling of patient information. In daily work, the greatest benefit usually comes from patient information systems and other systems approved by the organisation. However, in education, planning, and development work, different office and collaboration applications can be very useful.