Computers can be helpers, can't become masters

Photo from U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services

I work in front of a computer all day. Then often, a little more in the evening and weekends. Then there's the smart phone.

All this technology should make more much more efficient, right? Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Turns out that technology alone - at least in its current "one-size-fits-all" state - isn't necessarily the great advance in stroke care.

Check out the Modern Healthcare article on how electronic health records alone don't improve stroke:

Joynt, meanwhile, said the results suggest the industry should pay more attention to EHR design and integrating the software into clinicians' work. "Their interfaces aren't terrific, and they don't have the ability to really link people together to care for complex patients," she said.

Stroke patients are a perfect example.

"You need rehabilitation care, potentially occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, they need to get their medications correct," Joynt said. "They need all these things not just to survive the stroke, but have the lowest level of disability possible."

Despite the fact that I've used technology in all kinds of ways in my work for decades, on this blog for almost 10 years, and more, I am convinced that the human element will always be there and needed. Computers can be helpful and will be increasingly helpful as advances are made. But as helpers, not masters.