Digitalization in specialized medical care
At the moment, I work as a registered nurse in the post-anesthesia care unit and monitoring department of the surgical ward. I have about ten years of work experience as a nurse, so nursing documentation was already mostly electronic when I graduated. However, digitalization in the hospital world has evolved during my career and continues to do so. In my work, I currently use up to ten different electronic information systems or applications daily, in addition to a lot of medical technology. The applications and patient information systems in use include Uranus, OMNI360, Opera, anesthesia information system CHAA (Centricity High Acuity Critical Care), as well as the electronic pre-information form AneDigi. Some medical devices nowadays even communicate with information systems by transferring data electronically directly into the systems. Such data can include patient measurement results (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, etc.), or the settings of infusion pumps and other medical devices being automatically recorded into the patient information system just by adjusting the device. The increasing number of applications also brings challenges, such as the fact that different applications may not always communicate with each other, leading to duplicate documentation and requiring information retrieval from multiple sources while working.
New information systems and applications keep emerging, and digitalization is increasing, especially in my field. Most recently, my unit is introducing an electronic orientation system, allowing us to eliminate paper-based orientation materials. Additionally, hospitals are digitalizing at a tremendous pace as facilities are renovated and new technologies are implemented. In my work, this is reflected, for example, in the robotics used in operating rooms, clothing distribution robots or smart medicine cabinets. Work is changing at an incredible speed – and employees have no choice but to keep up with the changes!
Social and health care organizations must comply with GDPR and ensure the handling of patient or client data in accordance with legal requirements. For example, my employer, the wellbeing services county, must ensure the implementation of data security and properly address data protection breaches. GDPR enhances personal data security by giving individuals more control over their information, such as the right to access, correct, or delete their data. It promotes transparency and ensures organizations handle data responsibly, reducing risks like data breaches. While it empowers users in the digital age, GDPR also brings some challenges, like added complexity in processes and compliance requirements.
Chat GPT
I asked Chat GPT questions about a patient’s recovery from various surgeries as well as information on possible anesthesia options. The AI’s responses to fairly simple questions seemed quite valid to me, and it correctly outlined, for example, the applications, disadvantages and benefits of different types of anesthesia. Additionally, it provided a comprehensive answer about a patient’s recovery from surgery, possible complications, and factors affecting recovery time. I compared its responses to those given by Copilot, which were significantly more concise, and I felt that Copilot cited unreliable sources in its answers, such as blogs. I have also noticed that an AI tool may provide completely incorrect answers to questions, so it is definitely not something to be fully trusted. As with everything on the internet, media literacy and source criticism become important when using AI. AI does not exclusively refer to researched knowledge but rather combines information from various sources.
AI is, in my opinion, a quite practical tool, but one must also be source-critical when using it.
Conclusions
The overall advancement of digital technology brings many new opportunities for both businesses and individuals. Electronic transactions and online shopping make everyday life easier, as many practical matters can be handled without even leaving home. Additionally, social media offers opportunities for easier communication worldwide. For businesses, the development of digitalization provides new possibilities in areas such as marketing and branding—social media marketing, for example, is nowadays an important marketplace for many companies.
Digitalization requires continuous self-improvement and staying up to date with developments, as well as a critical mindset from all individuals. While technological progress offers many benefits, the possibility and forms of fraud also increase, demanding users to possess strong critical thinking skills.
In many areas of healthcare development, the utilization of digitalization is, in my opinion, an important and beneficial factor, as it can help improve access to care and facilitate the transfer of information from the patient to the healthcare professionals. Good examples of this include electronic care pathways, remote consultations and digital clinics. However, although the media often discusses replacing healthcare workers with robotics or artificial intelligence, I do not believe this will become a reality (at least not for decades). There are many tasks in healthcare that neither AI nor advanced technology can replace and personal human interaction remains one of the most essential aspects of the field.
I commented:
Thank you for your post! It was interesting to read about your experiences with technology as a registered nurse. I also work as a nurse and share your concerns about some of the current digital systems. While there are many benefits, there are also challenges such as the double documentation you mentioned, often caused by systems that don’t communicate well with each other.
You made a great point about the rapid pace of digitalization in hospitals today. Adjusting staff to keep up with these changes is a real challenge. You wrote, “employees have no choice but to keep up with the changes,” and I’ve seen this at my own workplace too. It can cause additional stress for staff who are already managing a heavy workload.
I’m also glad you highlighted hospital´s data privacy and security issues. GDPR adds complexity to hospital data practices, and many patients struggle not only with using digital services but also with understanding their privacy rights. Building trust in digital healthcare services remains an ongoing challenge.
I agree with you that staying up to date with digital developments and taking personal responsibility for continuous learning are important, especially while maintaining critical thinking skills. It’s essential to understand and effectively use the digital tools available to us.
Finally, I share your view that nurses are unlikely to be replaced by robotics anytime soon. Instead, we can use automation and artificial intelligence (AI) as tools to improve efficiency and accuracy leading to better patient outcomes.
Thank you again for your blog post. It was inspiring to hear about your experiences, especially since we seem to share similar perspectives on our work environments.