• Question: How has technology changed/ improved your career and medicine as a whole?

    Asked by Karolina to Simon, Katharine, Jonathan, Emma, Chris on 16 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: Jonathan Harte

      Jonathan Harte answered on 16 Jun 2017:

      Computer technology has definitely changed medicine and my job for the better in my opinion.
      Electronic patient records for example mean the whole patient record is there infront of me, rather than in a wallet up in the records room.
      All their results – easily searchable, online access to reference material like drug formularies and clinical guidelines.
      Electronic communications have also improved transfer of information between healthcare providers, sharing of information which helps improve patient care.
      The other major technological advance is in imaging like MRIs and other scans which have helped the diagnostic process immeasurably.

    • Photo: Emma Rowe

      Emma Rowe answered on 16 Jun 2017:

      I’ve been fortunate enough to have never been without technology during my career. I’ve always had computers and the internet to help with things.
      But when we had the recent cyber attack, it became very clear just how much we struggle without the computers and even basic technology we take for granted like phones! We couldn’t call out of the building at times so that was very challenging.

    • Photo: Katharine Bradbury

      Katharine Bradbury answered on 16 Jun 2017:

      Fully computerised medical notes that can be shared with other health care professions and electronic prescribing (where the prescription is sent electronically to the pharmacist, a bit like an email) are examples of technology we use each day. Our nursing homes have recently had access to tele-medicine where healthcare professionals can assess patients remotely – this has reduced the numbers of request for visits, for example after a patient has fallen.

      The amount of information available for patients has vastly improved through the internet although some sources of information are better than others. Many of my patients with chronic health problems benefit from online support groups. This is particularly useful if you have a rare condition as you can connect with people around the world.

    • Photo: Christopher Symonds

      Christopher Symonds answered on 19 Jun 2017:

      The greatest advance has been the electronic medical record as it allows quick and easy access to everything a clinician needs to know about a patient. The only stumbling block to its use is the restrictions put in because of the Data Protection Act which can stop information being shared when it most needs to be.

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