The Technology Train
>> Thursday, June 17, 2010
In an early scene of the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou" three fugitives, bound together by chains, are chasing a moving train. The wheel's rhythm chants a siren call to freedom and the way to a better life. The three men run hard and finally catch up to the train. The first two prisoners manage to drag themselves into an open boxcar. But the powerful pull of the train proves too much for the third to climb aboard, and so the other two men are abruptly yanked out of the boxcar, crumpling into a connected heap onto the cruel hard ground of repression.
This scene mimics the truth with respect to technology. There are many sectors in our society, such as education and healthcare, who are bound by the chains of tradition, fear and choice, and are trying desperately to catch the technology vehicle as it whizzes by in a blur of progress. The moving train of technological advancements has often far outpaced the ability of organizations to keep up. The healthcare industry, specfically, is scrambling to catch the train in many ways. The lure of the ride, the hope of arrival at a destination superior to the place of departure, and the risk involved is seductive enough for some, but not for others in the industry. Questions loom. Is the ride worth it? Will the results be beneficial?
There have been incredible technological advancements in healthcare, many which have greatly improved patient outcomes. But the transformation has been a mixed blessing, with some negative side effects. One of those, due to the pervasive computer use has been a loss of effective communication and personal connectivity between patient and providers. Since the earliest days of medicine, healthCARE has been founded upon relationships. Some would argue that technology, especially computers, have de-personalized the patient / provider interaction and decentralized the patient-centric model, which was prevalent in the days when providers made house calls. Now with the emergence of social media (SM) and mobile technology, the ability to improve communication and re-connect with patients has infused the patient-care paradigm with new possibilities. SM may be conducive to increased personalized care.
