Staying current in today’s fast moving and ever-changing
environment is a challenge, not only as leaders but simply as people. I considered myself to be fairly
knowledgeable regarding a good number of technology products available, and
have seen the Google
Glass videos (personally, I like
this one better, http://youtu.be/uR9MePvjRuY
but warning, bleeped out bad language).
I loved the Corning
videos,
which I have never seen, and sadly I live 50 minutes from Corning and most of
their R&D facilities. Amazing
technology and could have great applications in the health care field, as much
of their great work already has.
What I believe is most important for leaders to focus on is
1) what are the new and emerging technologies and 2) how does it affect my
workplace. For example, we’ll look at
Google Glass. This is a really neat
technology that could be helpful for busy people like physicians and other
practitioners on the go. It could pose
serious privacy risks as well if the providers are not aware policies and
regulations surrounding the use of photo and video equipment in a health care
facility. These rules are no different
for cellular telephones, but I think a video chat is less likely in a patient
room with an iPhone than with the Google Glass device.
Kevin Kelly speaks on his
blog about how what has been built in the Internet realm is really just a
base for what there is to come. This
means for us, as leaders, we truly need to not fear the web but learn and
understand it. So many fear it, fear
that it will steal their privacy or steal their identity. There is so much the web can do for us,
professionally and personally (if we’re interested in that), and we need to
capitalize from a professional perspective on what the web can do for us. How can our industry or our profession
capitalize on new technologies, such as those types of things that Corning or
other developers are creating? A great
example of new technology in the medical world that I find truly phenomenal is
3D printing of medical devices and prosthetics.
Here is a site of one of the firms doing some of this work – Strata-Sys. There are amazing new technologies, from simple
web based systems for providers like connectivity of the electronic health
record to being able to ‘print’ an exoskeletion for a little girl from a 3D
printer so she’s able to move her arm again.
Health care leaders must embrace the Internet and technology and not
fear it. These changes can bring great
positives to our industry.
Thanks for sharing those awesome links. I had not seen the corning video and what impresses me is the forward thinking that those videos illustrate. You brought up a great point that few even consider and that the legal implications. We should also expect legal people to be trained on technology so that can make informed legal recommendations. Good insightful post!
ReplyDeleteGreat observations, Jill. Embrace it ... but with a critical eye, looking for value added and not "latest neat thing." It would seem to me that a networked health care system sharing patient data is a no-brainer...but with that sharing are necessary safeguards for each individual. Who knows what advances might be possible with the large database of individual patient records, perhaps, as they are experimenting with in Japan, smart toilets to continually monitor and alert doctors ... as well as spot national trends. But with all this comes privacy concerns that must be proactively dealt with....
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a couple of great points. I think that you could expand it though. I will tell you that I actually change No. 2 to “how does it affect me” instead of just in the workplace. I find that I take things from my personal life and then transition them and adapt them to the workplace. I take things and tweak them. I ask the question, “How can this help me do my job?” These items always come from my personal life.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Google Glass thing goes, I think it looks dorky. That’s just me. Until it becomes fashionable and cool, I probably won’t be a part of the revolution. That may seem trivial, but the “cool” factor has a big effect on the adoption rate. That’s my prediction!
JK
Hi JK!
DeleteThat is really good as far as adapting technology from your personal life to your work life. I'm not sure if the cool factor is a huge part for the adoption rate. If people believe the technology is effective then they will use it. I would argue if people believe it is culturally acceptable to be walking around the Google Glass then people will be more inclined to utilize it.
There are many aspects we can take away from the web! This program is a great example of how the web is utilized for professional reasons! I agree that it’s important to embrace technology learn and understand it. Because it’s one thing to know what technology is, but to really understand how it works is truly the key.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Stratasys website and all I can say is WOW! There are so many things about 3D printing I never, ever thought were possible. The video about Emma and her “magic arms” brought me to tears. How amazing is technology!
Thank your for your insights with leadership, technology and the health field!
Tanishia
Thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteDr Watwood - it's interesting as I wear I Fitbit (hadn't thought to mention this when I was writing my post, for some reason). It tracks all of my activity during the day and night. I also enter all of my 'input' into My Fitness Pal. If a smart toilet tracked all (or most) of my output, and then linked that to my medical record so my docs could see it, imagine the continuity of care!
There are actually some great laws and regs in place to protect the medical record in these instances, but just like any other law or regulation, it's a matter of it actually being applied and enforced. Always a challenge!
I think the Google Glass thing is pretty cool. It see that they are beta-ing a version that you can use for running and cycling. I'd like to try that, but I don't typically carry my phone when I run so that would be a hassle. I looking dorky when I run is not a problem for me - I'm pretty expert at that - so adding a goofy addition to my sunglasses wouldn't be a problem. It's the price tag that will be an issue for a while. $1,500! My Garmin will have to suffice for a while.
- Jill
Hi Jill!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that we need to identify the new and emerging technologies and see how does the technology affect our workplaces. However, it does raise the question that if I am utilizing a piece of technology that fits my needs at my workplace, should I replace the old technology with the new technology because it is considered new and emerging technology? I’m just curious on your thoughts. Thank you!