Convincing nurses, unions, and executives at hospitals that they could do things better if they really rethought things out is going to be very difficult.
People see change and resist. They see inefficiencies as job security.
One of the nurses I met this week says “I’m a people person.” Translation: she doesn’t understand the world of computers or technology (even though she works with dozens of computers every day — she just doesn’t think of them as computers).
So, why not start with 50 beds in a hospital somewhere, computerize those, see if there’s any benefit to patient care (and reduction in malpractice suits)?
While I’m at it, why don’t hospitals have videoconferencing systems where the doctor can check in visually on a patient? Hospitals are becoming so large that getting from one side of the hospital to another can take 10 minutes. The person I’m with doesn’t need to see the surgeon anymore, but he has been up here five times so far. He’s the best in the nation, and that personal touch is a big part of why he’s so highly regarded. But, he could check in even more often if there were a plasma screen up and a video camera.
Not to mention: the best thing for a patient to have here would be video that we could use with our friends and family outside. I’d pay $20 a day just to have access to an IP-based videophone that’d work with Skype and MSN Messenger.
I’m a weirdo, and bring my computer into the hospital room, but most people don’t remember to bring their computers to the hospital. And, I’m sure that in places not so near a big tech company that computer usage would be looked at strangely.
That reminds me. Gotta send an email out to friends and family. I wish they all would be on MSN Messenger…
Robert Scoble is the founder of the Scobleizer blog. He works as PodTech.net’s Vice President of Media Development.
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