Computers in the Workplace (Healthcare)

 

Computers play a very important role in the healthcare field. Those in the field need to be computer literate because of how much of the career involves computer usage. Computers are used to complete simple tasks like scheduling patient visits, charting medical diagnoses, and administering drugs. Additionally, computers are used for more complex tasks like operating equipment like MRI and CT scan machines and Gamma knife machines for treating brain tumors. At the least, patient care would take longer as it would take the employee longer to complete tasks like scheduling patient visits. Regarding something more serious, patients could be scheduled for the wrong surgeries or provided the wrong medication and treatment if the employee struggled with technology. Additionally, the treatment may not be as effective due to the employee administering it incorrectly.

 

Advances in technology like artificial intelligence (AI) will improve the field of healthcare in the future. With AI technology, doctors and surgeons will be able to complete virtual biopsies on patients. Experts predict in the future that AI will enable the next generation of radiology devices that are precise and detailed enough to replace the need for tissue samples in some cases (Bresnick, 2020). AI will also be able to help with healthcare shortages, bringing top-tier healthcare worldwide where they do not have access. Currently, there are telehealth visits where the patient can Facetime with a doctor from the comfort of their home to reach a diagnosis on certain ailments, but it will become more commonplace, and they may be able to diagnose more severe health problems. Artificial intelligence could help mitigate the severe shortage of qualified clinical staff by taking over some of the diagnostic duties normally allocated to humans through apps available to providers in low-resource areas (Bresnick, 2020).