Hospitals today are filled with machinery that have replaced human labor that was once the only available system of service. The rise of technology in the healthcare field not only continues to pave the way for alternative operating procedures but also for managing entire patient records. How has technology changed modern medicine and what are its implications for future doctors entering the field?
I argue that a contradiction is emerging in modern medicine: on the one hand technology can now do so much to replace what doctors used to have to do. On the other hand, patients crave human, not impersonal technological interactions. Humanoid robots and Doctor apps have allowed people to bypass the geographical and time constraints of waiting to see an actual physician. The Internet has also revolutionized the way people seek out answers to their medical related questions. With such innovations that can handle entire databases of information, the roles of modern doctors must accordingly adjust.
Doctors were once required to be knowledgeable sources of information, however technological competition has now eradicated the need for human databases. Patients today are now looking for humanistic approaches and holistic treatment, not just for the illnesses. Medical schools have also recognized the new demands of healthcare by introducing a shift in the MCAT topics, which now focus on the humanistic subjects of sociology and psychology. My research project will not only analyze articles regarding technology and its ability to revolutionize medicine, but also will feature interviews from patients, doctors, and aspiring doctors to get their perspective on future changes for the healthcare industry. Finally, I will also integrate physician memoirs to compare how doctors’ roles have changed from past to present.
