What do you do if new technology in healthcare poses potential risks and challenges?

In any given area of healthcare, technology poses a difficult but valuable contribution to the potential for improving patient outcomes. For example, many patients are scared by machines like electrocardiography, which have zero input of electricity into the patient! The most important thing to account for in developing new technologies for healthcare is adequate testing AND informing the public on how the development can positively impact them. Without a personal view, many will simply see new technologies as cash-grabs or threats to the labor force.

Evaluate the technology's purpose, functionality, and potential impact on patient care, workflow, and outcomes. Consider whether the technology addresses a specific need or problem within a healthcare setting and if its benefits outweigh any associated risks or challenges. Conducting a cost-benefit analysis helps weigh the potential advantages against the financial investment and potential drawbacks, such as disruptions to existing workflows or concerns about patient privacy and data security. Additionally, involving key stakeholders, including frontline staff, IT experts, administrators, and patients, in the assessment process ensures diverse perspectives are considered and enhances buy-in and support for implementation efforts.

Providing comprehensive training programs that cater to the diverse needs of healthcare team, ensuring everyone feels confident and competent in using the technology effectively. Training sessions should cover not only the technical aspects of operating the new technology but also its potential applications, benefits, and best practices for integration into daily workflows. Additionally, offering ongoing support and resources, such as user manuals, online tutorials, and help desks, enables team members to access assistance and troubleshoot issues as they arise. All this empowers healthcare team to embrace innovation, adapt to change, and ultimately deliver higher quality care to patients.

The first thing would be to conduct a risk assessment to identify problems with the new technology. Defining new rules and regulations to mitigate any risks or failure should be prioritized. Continuous testing and monitoring would help identify any issues that may arise in the future.

Healthcare AI is coming, and in lots of ways, it's already here. Organizations don't really have a choice but to figure out how to adapt and ultimately embrace these new technologies. Assembling an AI review committee within your IT department is one way in which I've seen organizations adapt and prepare to evaluate the safety, risk, and benefits of new technologies. Also, working with tech companies to ensure compliance from a regulatory standpoint helps start that relationship off in a collaborative manor that is mutually beneficial.

It's imperative to embrace a mindset of innovation and adaptability. This involves actively seeking opportunities to innovate and leverage the technology to improve patient care, streamline workflows, and enhance healthcare delivery. By encouraging creativity and exploration, we can identify novel ways to integrate the technology into practice and address existing pain points or inefficiencies. Additionally, remaining open to feedback from frontline staff and patients allows to adapt and refine an approach based on real-world experiences and insights. This positions one to stay ahead of the curve and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.