We’ve all seen movies and headlines in the news warning about what the potential consequences of AI, or artificial intelligence, might be on the labor force from automated cars that replace taxi drivers to advanced office support systems capable of replacing accountants. Have you ever thought about what its impact might be on your job? While many of these scenarios are sensationalized, it is true that an estimated 400-800 million jobs are at risk of being replaced by technology by 2030 according to a recent report by McKinsey. Even more surprising to some, healthcare is the industry most likely to be affected as pharmacies become automated and IBM’s Watson is able to diagnose diseases such as cancer more accurately than physicians. While there is no artificial replacement for a nurse’s comforting bedside manner, there are instances of caregivers in Japan and Germany being replaced by robots that are programmed to take care of elderly patients and even play games with the patients to help keep their minds sharp.
So what can you do to keep your job safe?
While no job is ever 100% secure, one good way to protect your place in the workforce is to make sure your skillset is current. Interim opportunities can be a great way of gaining experience in diverse clinical environments with different technological capabilities. Moreover, healthcare managerial and leadership positions are also less vulnerable to technological disruptions as hospitals need leaders to guide strategy and lead teams. A career in Interim Leadership can provide broad exposure to different environments which helps hone strategic thinking and provides depth of practical experience and application of technology to position one strongly for the future of healthcare. Technology advances such as AI are occurring at a rapid pace, and healthcare is poised for transformation as a result. Taking steps to grow your healthcare leadership skillset and increase your value can position you well for the exciting career opportunities that will unfold in the future as technology continues to accelerate transformation in healthcare.
https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21700758-will-smarter-machines-cause-mass-unemployment-automation-and-anxiety
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/29/one-third-of-us-workers-could-be-jobless-by-2030-due-to-automation.html
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/ibm-watson-medical-doctor
