Commenting on the King’s Fund report out today - The reality of, and potential for, digitally enabled care in the community – Head of Practice and Workforce at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Suhailah Mohamed, said:
‘We can't do our jobs without technology. The way we use technology will continue to grow and change, with things like AI and automation being used more and more. However, we need to make sure that it’s used in the right way for the benefit of people and communities. We still need people for emotional connection, the human touch, and to check that the technology is working how it’s supposed to.
‘Working better with technology and new digital solutions can give us more time with the people accessing our services and can reduce duplication in how we work, saving money and limited resources, but only if the technology works properly. Some workplaces aren’t even getting the basics right – with staff having to share devices and waiting to type up notes after seeing patients. That has a knock-on effect on the multiprofessional teams involved in a patient’s care; it delays decision-making and can delay discharges from hospital.
‘There are a lot of nuances to health and care, especially for occupational therapy, where working with someone as an individual is paramount. That’s why we will always need people for occupational therapy careers. Our work with individuals means that we can make sure the technology available is built with the end-user in mind, so that it helps them manage their health and care needs more independently and helps them do the activities – or occupations – that matter to them most in life.’