Robots, AI and Alexa to transform NHS

[Northerner]

Within the next 20-years, 90% of NHS jobs will require digital skills according to a report by the organisation looking into its future.

With advancements in technologies such as AI and robotics rapidly transforming surgery, diagnosis and even patient care, the report suggests that fresh education is required to keep up.

However, although automated technologies like robotics and AI are already being implemented into the organisation, the report suggests that most technologies will be enhancements, such as smart speakers like Alexa and Siri, which will ease the burden on doctors and give them more time with patients.

https://www.itpro.co.uk/business-strategy/32960/robots-ai-and-alexa-to-transform-nhs

 

[mikeyB]

You can sod Alexa, everything you say or ask is stored on the Amazon cloud. Siri is almost as bad. That’s how they remember previous requests - they have no significant memory of their own, apart from enough to switch on attached devices in the home. Very insecure. I don’t want my personal info stored by American mega companies, ta very much.

As usual, the NHS has been hypnotised by these companies, just as the general public has been. I can see no useful benefit at all...

“Alexa, turn the morphine pump up to max”. No fingerprints.😉

 

[Bruce Stephens]

“Alexa, turn the morphine pump up to max”. No fingerprints.

No fingerprints, but presumably Amazon would have the request recorded, which would surely be just as good. So you'd want to use some other device to speak for you. (Such things apparently exist that can say just about anything with little training.) So you could (with a little work) have Matt Hancock's voice saying that.

I think they're assuming that voice recognition is vastly more accurate than it actually is. It's better with limited domains, admittedly, but even then I'm not so sure that voice operated prescribing would be any faster than a GP using the current sort of software (with keyboard and mouse). (It all feels like a waste of effort, but then although I've got several devices that are quite capable of voice operation, I've only ever used one on a few occasions as a kitchen timer. I just don't much want to talk at devices. And at work, I'm working in an open plan office.)

 

[Ralph-YK]

I think they're assuming that voice recognition is vastly more accurate than it actually is.

Android devices do vastly better at knowing what I'm saying than people do. Except on occasion it will completely fail. Which is annoying, as I know it can do better. People Never do better!
For example, Android always gets my name right. Something the nurses in a hospital rarely got right in the 3 weeks I was there as an in patient!

 

[mikeyB]

Of course Android gets your name right, it only has one to remember, and doesn’t do shifts with anything else. And don’t worry, Google know more about you than the nurses ever did.

 

[Ralph-YK]

And don’t worry, Google know more about you than the nurses ever did.

Oh I'm very worried. Google is the "Evil Empire" of the tech world!

 

[trophywench]

At our local hospital they have those touch screens, which is useful since if you've checked in but your apt is at the furthest point away from the front door (and it often seems to be!) at least the clinic know you've arrived in the building.

Not at the main hospital though - can take up to an hour to park then a 5 minute walk from the carpark to the main door plus another 5 to get wherever you're going, providing your legs and lungs work OK. Then they take your BP !

 

[Ljc]

At my gp their are two receptionists and also touchscreen thingy for booking appointments and checking in, most of the time it’s proudly sporting a notice saying it’s poorly 🙄

 

[Lanny]

At our local hospital they have those touch screens, which is useful since if you've checked in but your apt is at the furthest point away from the front door (and it often seems to be!) at least the clinic know you've arrived in the building.

Not at the main hospital though - can take up to an hour to park then a 5 minute walk from the carpark to the main door plus another 5 to get wherever you're going, providing your legs and lungs work OK. Then they take your BP !

😱 That seems to happen every time & I have to say "I just got off the bus & walked here"! It's not really surprising it goes up to 150/whatever when it's usually 120/70 & I tell them that!🙄

 

[Lanny]

My late mum hated those touchscreen interfaces & preferred reporting in to someone. The local hospital now has volunteers, with badges & lanyards, that take people to where they're going & help them use the touchscreens to check in. It's usually older retired people who volunteer so, it's a win:win on both sides. The NHS doesn't need to shell out wages & older people can get out & about, walking the hospital corridors, meeting people & feel useful!🙂

 

[Ralph-YK]

Yesterday my BP was 113/59

The local hospital now has volunteers, with badges & lanyards, that take people to where they're going & help them use the touchscreens to check in. It's usually older retired people who volunteer so, it's a win:win on both sides. The NHS doesn't need to shell out wages & older people can get out & about, walking the hospital corridors, meeting people & feel useful!🙂

We have that at my local hospital. You then sit in the general waiting are still a message on a screen tells you where to go. When you get to the department you have a 'receptionist'.