First-year doctors will be allowed to work 24-hour shifts starting in July

Re:First-year doctors will be allowed to work 24-hour shifts... by pfranz on Friday March 10, 2017 @01:49PM (#13840965)

How would automation help? Is it not a supply/demand issue already (an increase in doctors alleviate things)? Was it worse before we had electronic records and fancy medical equipment?

Maybe it's because of cost (and automation will drive that down)? We're willing to pay fewer doctors at the expense overworking and low supply? If so, I don't see that fixing anything. It would keep status quo, but drive down doctor's salaries or the demand of doctors.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:First-year doctors will be allowed to work 24-hour shifts... by ge96 on Friday March 10, 2017 @07:50PM (#13843440)

I mean how else does automation help in life. I'd think we're far from an AI making the tough life or death decisions but if their potential work load of 24 hours could be decreased with automated systems performing specific tasks. What exactly is automated? I don't know maybe the pre-checks/questionnaires screening patients.

I realize a doctor is not the same as a burger flipper/dishwasher so their tasks would be harder to automate.

Fancy medical equipment haha. Throw that x-ray imaging away let me just touch your bones and see if it's broken or not.

A tumor did you say? We'll I don't see it.

It was just a thought of my part I'm not a doctor, or a 'leading analyst's just the usual forum BS on my part.

[ Parent | on HN ]