Is digital innovation killing empathy in health care? The realities of patient care in a tech-driven world

GopalSingh Charan, Amanpreet Kaur, Kiranpreet Kaur
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Abstract

The health care industry has experienced a digital transformation that has enhanced efficiency, accuracy and access to information. As digital innovation continues to revolutionise health care, there is growing concern about its impact on empathy–the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The rise of telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs) and other digital tools has changed the way health care providers interact with patients, leading some to worry that technology is eroding the human touch that has long been a hallmark of good medical care. THE RISE OF DIGITAL INNOVATION IN HEALTH CARE Digital innovation has reshaped health care, impacting diagnosis, treatment and patient communication. Telemedicine enables remote consultations, decreasing the need for in-person visits and allowing care delivery to remote or underserved areas.[1] EHRs have also transformed health care by allowing health care providers to store and access patient data electronically. EHRs make it easier for providers to track patients’ medical history, test results and other critical information, which can improve the quality of care.[2] Digital tools such as mobile health apps and wearables enable real-time patient–provider communication and health tracking. These tools aid in chronic condition management and supply valuable data for informed medical decisions. THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL INNOVATION ON EMPATHY IN HEALTH CARE While digital innovation has many benefits, some worry that it is eroding empathy in health care. Empathy is essential to good medical care because it helps providers understand patients’ emotions, concerns and needs, which can inform treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. A concern with the growth of telemedicine and digital tools is the reduction in face-to-face interactions between patients and providers. The lack of in-person visits may limit opportunities to observe non-verbal cues and build rapport, potentially hindering empathy and personalised care. Another concern is that the use of EHRs may be reducing the amount of time providers spend engaging with patients. Providers may spend more time documenting patient information and less time interacting with patients, which can make it harder to build relationships and establish trust.[3] STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF TECHNOLOGY IN PATIENT CARE Patients seek empathy and understanding from health care providers as the absence of it could cause negative emotions such as frustration, anxiety and distrust. However, a lack of empathy can lead to distrust. Patients want collaborative care that acknowledges their specific needs and preferences, which entails listening to their concerns. Hospital executive leadership must devise strategies to tackle technology-related challenges in patient care. Preventing empathy erosion requires prioritising and training health care providers in communication, active listening and empathy, which enhances patient outcomes and satisfaction. Providers should actively listen, enquire and clarify misunderstandings to show care and commitment to patients’ health goals. CONCLUSION Digital innovation has significantly enhanced patient care but maintaining empathy is crucial. Providers should prioritise active listening and carefully integrate technology to ensure empathetic, tech-driven patient care. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.
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数字创新正在扼杀医疗保健领域的同理心吗?在科技驱动的世界里,病人护理的现实
医疗保健行业经历了数字化转型,提高了效率、准确性和信息获取能力。随着数字创新不断革新医疗保健,人们越来越担心它对同理心的影响,即理解和分享他人感受的能力。远程医疗、电子健康记录(EHRs)和其他数字工具的兴起改变了医疗保健提供者与患者互动的方式,导致一些人担心技术正在侵蚀长期以来作为良好医疗保健标志的人性化。数字创新重塑了医疗保健,影响了诊断、治疗和患者沟通。远程医疗实现了远程咨询,减少了亲自就诊的需求,并允许向偏远或服务不足的地区提供医疗服务。[1]通过允许医疗保健提供者以电子方式存储和访问患者数据,电子病历也改变了医疗保健。电子病历使提供者更容易跟踪患者的病史、检查结果和其他关键信息,这可以提高护理质量。[2]移动健康应用程序和可穿戴设备等数字工具可以实现患者与提供者的实时通信和健康跟踪。这些工具有助于慢性病管理,并为明智的医疗决策提供有价值的数据。虽然数字创新有很多好处,但一些人担心它正在侵蚀医疗保健领域的同理心。同理心对于良好的医疗服务至关重要,因为它可以帮助提供者了解患者的情绪、担忧和需求,从而为治疗决策提供信息并改善患者的结果。随着远程医疗和数字工具的发展,一个令人担忧的问题是患者和提供者之间面对面互动的减少。缺乏面对面的访问可能会限制观察非语言线索和建立融洽关系的机会,潜在地阻碍同情和个性化护理。另一个担忧是,电子病历的使用可能会减少医疗服务提供者与患者接触的时间。提供者可能会花更多的时间记录病人的信息,而花更少的时间与病人互动,这可能会使建立关系和建立信任变得更加困难。[3]患者寻求医疗服务提供者的同情和理解,因为缺乏同情和理解可能会导致沮丧、焦虑和不信任等负面情绪。然而,缺乏同理心会导致不信任。病人想要的合作护理,承认他们的特殊需求和偏好,这需要倾听他们的担忧。医院行政领导必须制定战略,以应对患者护理中与技术相关的挑战。防止移情侵蚀需要优先考虑并培训卫生保健提供者进行沟通、积极倾听和移情,从而提高患者的治疗效果和满意度。提供者应积极倾听、询问并澄清误解,以显示对患者健康目标的关心和承诺。结论数字创新显著提高了患者护理水平,但保持同理心至关重要。提供者应优先考虑积极倾听,并仔细整合技术,以确保移情、技术驱动的患者护理。财政支持及赞助无。利益冲突没有利益冲突。
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