In a relatively short amount of time, we have seen how the health and social care profession is waking up to the benefits of everyday technology in supporting patient care. As voice-activated devices take off in the UK, how long before the pressing of our screens becomes an old-fashioned way of interacting with technology? How long then before speaking will become unnecessary too? As technology continues its relentless onwards march, it doesn't seem fanciful to see a future with technology integrated into our bodies; keeping us healthy, predicting our future health needs, prolonging our lives and truly making us superhuman (1). And don't even get me started on robots...
But hang on there Paul, don't get ahead of yourself, taking us down your futuristic Wall-E (2) world. Let’s bring it back to the present day. It was only last year that I asked members to consider how they were utilising technology in practice (3). How have you started to use everyday technology with the people you work with? From the many OTNews articles and discussions over 2018, I know that many occupational therapists are already using technology in this way.
Last year's 70th anniversary of the NHS saw the introduction of 70 apps for health and social care (4). Some social services teams are making imaginative use of the Amazon Echo in care (5) and the increasing use of wearables for health monitoring is another example of innovation. It's clear that everyday technology is playing an increasingly important role in health and social care delivery. Not only that, but with the ubiquitous nature of technology taking over every part of lives, including shopping, socialising and work, those without access to it can face a big disadvantage in the modern world (6). As therapists, embracing people's use of everyday technology should be core to our practice. As pointed out by Lund (2018) "Those who have insufficient digital competence are at risk for exclusion from important occupations." (7).
We know from recent reports and commitments from governments across the UK that healthcare workers need to be digitally literate; not just for themselves but also for the people they work with (8). So how equipped are you to meet this challenge?
Of course, you must approach the use of everyday tech as you would any other tool in our occupational therapist toolkit. Our focus must always be on facilitating occupation; supporting positive risks with the people we work with; ensuring the duty of care to the people we work with and of course, keeping people at the centre of everything we do.
As a profession, we are ideally placed to demonstrate how technology can be used to enable daily activities, support self-management and promote preventative health and care delivery. As an occupational therapist, your skill lies in ensuring that the technology is the right fit for the person, their health conditions, daily activities, and their social and physical environment.
Consider what untapped potential there might be for the people you work with. A good example I have had recently is from a retired member of my family. This was a man who, by his own admission, hadn't been particularly tech-savvy, yet has YouTube'd his way to becoming a somewhat accomplished wood turner. A set of brand new skills and meaningful occupation that is due, in large part, to a piece of everyday technology.
Ask yourself then:
- What can you do to develop your digital literacy and tech skills? (9)
- How can you embrace the use of everyday tech in your work?
- If, as health professionals, we are tasked to take on a role to support people and carers to embrace technology, are you ready for this challenge?
So, apps are not the only answer, but they might be part of an everyday technological solution that supports the people we work with to participate in their meaningful occupations.
What do you think? Continue the conversation with Paul: @PaulCooperOT / paul.cooper@rcot.co.uk