The Impact of Technology on Medical Careers

With artificial intelligence and telemedicine gaining a foothold in healthcare, there are fears about technology easing medical professionals out of their jobs.

Those fears and other issues around growing health tech adoption were tackled at the recent Becker’s Hospital Review Health IT + RCM conference held in Chicago. In a keynote address to attendees, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s CIO Daniel Barchi cited benefits technology brings into the healthcare industry.

“Technology is an enabler because it levels disparities,” said Mr. Barchi, who also serves as senior vice president of NewYork-Presbyterian. “Technology allows us to break down barriers.”

There is no reason for the industry to fear technology, instead “we need to be open to embracing it as it comes along,” he pointed out. “Technology is not better than our clinicians, but our clinicians plus technology are better than our clinicians alone.”

Allaying fears that technology is going to replace clinicians and medical workers, Mr. Barchi cited data showing that the introduction of technology does not correlate with employment rates.

Health IT is 80 percent people, 15 percent process and 5 percent technology, according to Mr. Barchi, who also emphasised the importance of having a reliable team to make the inevitable changes that come with how technology works.