The Future of the No-Collar Workforce In Healthcare

Written By: Kelly Buckman

A common theme in many of films, and TV shows, going as far back as “Terminator” (1984), “RoboCop” (1987), or even further (anyone remember the “Jetsons”, which originally aired in 1962 or “2001: A Space Odyssey” from 1968?), the presence of robots and machines that can perform many of the functions once required of humans, has been ample fodder for the creative mind. Certainly a common thread among these films, and shows, coupled with advances of technology in the real world, are feelings of awe, and not a small amount of angst. Robotics has been a key factor in the automation of the manufacturing industry for over half a century. The first industrial robot, the Unimate, was developed in 1954. Initially met with skepticism, over time, the technology evolved, and today, robots perform numerous tasks with greater endurance, speed, and precision than their human counterparts, including welding, painting, assembly, pick and place for printed circuit boards, packaging and labeling, palletizing, production inspection, and testing. The result has been improved quality, and safety, greater productivity, and lower costs.

The healthcare industry has begun to adapt similar innovations, using the technology for routine tasks once performed by humans, such as monitoring patient vital statistics, dispensing medicine, and even performing certain types of surgery. The result has been enhanced productivity and efficiency, improved repeatability and consistency of processes, and increased speed of operations. *

Not surprisingly, as focus on automating tasks has grown over the past several decades, concern for the future of humans in the workforce has increased. Not just a factor of the computer age, predictions that automation will make humans redundant in the workplace go back to the Industrial Revolution, when textile workers protested that machines and steam engines would make their jobs obsolete. A similar worry arose in the in the 1960’s as the arrival of industrial computing machines in the business world began to become ubiquitous. More recently, the arrival of personal computers in the 1980’s stoked fear among workers that their jobs would be lost.

The idea that advancing technology won’t result in elimination of certain types of jobs may seem naïve. But the growing concerns about rising unemployment, and depersonalization of healthcare in the age of rapid technological advance has forced social scientists, and healthcare organizations to look for ways in which the human element can be maintained by working together with machines to maximize quality and efficiency. This concept, known as a “no-collar workforce” refers to a powerful collaboration of humans and technology that makes optimal use of the the unique strengths of both.”

Put simply, the idea behind the no-collar workforce is that by turning over repetitive, rule-based tasks to machines or robots, people are freed to focus on aspects of work that require empathetic problem-solving abilities, social skills, and creative intelligence. ** These skills, valued in many fields, are certainly of high value in the healthcare industry.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal quotes the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions statement, “Rather than replacing human workers, technology could help health care organizations create a more professionally satisfied workforce-by taking the robot out of the human.”***

By supporting the automation of repetitive non-medical tasks, such as delivering linens, meals, medication, and medical supplies, as well as picking up waste and laundry, healthcare providers are able to focus on providing precise, individualized, and personalized patient care. In the pharmacy, robots can automate accurate prescription dosing, and delivery to patients, which allows humans to turn their attention to other patient needs, and higher level patient care issues. What’s more, machine learning technologies, such as Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) can help radiologists analyze and accurately identify abnormalities in images more efficiently, allowing them more time to interact with patients. In addition, proper utilization of these technologies may reverse the trend of worker dissatisfaction, and burnout, a common occurrence among professionals in the healthcare field.

Certainly, correctly implemented policies with regards to utilization of technology in the industry will provide benefit to the healthcare industry in the decades to come, both from the perspective of the worker, and the patient. Indeed, the greatest risk facing workers in the age of automation is failure to adapt to new roles and learn new skills in order to retain their value. For most of us, this means being willing to re-train and re-evaluate our skill sets. For healthcare organizations, it means implementing thoughtful, and ethical policies that maximize the benefits of new technologies without sacrificing the quality of healthcare being provided. This means utilizing technology to support improvements in medical treatments, work environment for employees, and continued improvement in the quality of care to patients. Keeping these goals in mind, the “no-collar workforce” will endure, and provide benefit to the healthcare industry for years to come.

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Kelly Buckman is a healthcare IT expert and field expert blogger for Barracuda Consulting.

Kelly has almost a decade of experience as a Technical Support Engineer/ Analyst in the field of Healthcare IT, over 20 years in IT Support, and several years of experience in Project Management. She has a B.A. from Mount Holyoke, Masters degree from UMass Amherst, and lists her skills as the ability to analyze and resolve various types of application, server and network issues, and to communicate complex ideas effectively.

She is also the mother of 3 sons, ages 19, 17, and 11, lives in western Massachusetts, and enjoys solving puzzles, reading, and travelling.

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