February 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of the 2024 On the Horizon newsletter from the Future Workforce Unit (FWU). On the Horizon provides a snapshot of the key trends and developments that have the potential to shape and impact our future workforce, workplace and ways of working.

On the Horizon is part of the Focus on the Future Workforce Initiative, which aims to support the health system to ensure a resilient and digitally enabled workforce that can adapt to the changes in the system caused by technology and other disruptions. By focusing on not just the now, but also the future, NSW Health can ensure that we meet the needs of the community now and into the future.

Please note that the opinions shared in On the Horizon are those of the respective authors, and may not reflect the views of FWU or NSW Health.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the articles may contain images of people who have passed away.

In the past month the Future Workforce Team have been engaged in some great conversations from AI and workforce and culture to megatrends and transformation. This month saw the inaugural meeting with the dedicated NSW Health AI Taskforce which I am thrilled to be a part of, working alongside a group of inspiring people. In partnership with Q5, NSW Health joined a panel discussion for a stimulating discussion on the ‘Transformation in health: What’s working in NSW and the NHS’. You can listen to the recording through MS Stream in the next seven days.

I’ve been reflecting on a podcast I recently listened to by the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Transformational Healthcare Leadership with Annie Flamsteed. Annie talks through using her lived experience with mental health challenges to build a company that uses data from wearables to predict when, or if, someone was potentially going to struggle with mental illness, in order to accelerate their access to healthcare. I find Annie’s story exciting for us to learn from. She poses the question “how can we use technology to better support or accelerate access to care?”. Her learning journey has her excited about the possibility for the healthcare ecosystem to see real time, in person clinical interventions optimised through innovative technologies.

With the countdown underway to filming Series 5 of the Future Health Podcast, we look forward to sharing with you the thought-provoking content we’ve been planning. You can subscribe at your preferred listening platform (details provided below).

In this month's edition of On the Horizon, we're exploring a range of trends and advancements in health technology that have the potential to impact our future workforce, workplace and ways of working. As you sift through these trends, I invite you to use the questions provided as an opportunity to reflect on what these signals could mean for our people, and to trigger provocative thinking around how NSW Health can adapt to and seize the opportunities on the horizon.

Lastly, I encourage each of you to embrace curiosity, creativity, and collaboration as guiding principles in your work. Together, we have the opportunity to shape the future of NSW Health where we are more prepared, capable and innovative than ever before.

- Tamara Lee

Director, Future Workforce

The transformative potential of the metaverse in healthcare

In 2022, Gartner predicted that “by 2026, 25% of people will spend at least one hour a day in the metaverse for work, shopping, education, social and/or entertainment”. The concept of the metaverse is rapidly evolving from science fiction to tangible reality. While its applications span various sectors, one area expected to see significant transformation is healthcare. So, what is the metaverse? Whilst there's currently no definitive understanding, Gartner describes a metaverse as a collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of physical and virtual reality. There is a general consensus that the metaverse represents an iteration of the internet that will utilise artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality (VR), and improved connectivity (like existing 5G networks) to craft virtual environments that are more immersive, experiential, and interactive compared to what we have today.

So, what does this mean for healthcare? Leading healthcare professionals in Abu Dhabi are already exploring potential applications of the metaverse, using tools such as 3D models of a patient’s body to help surgeons plan and conduct operations, as well as exploring the use of VR environments for psychiatric therapy. Additionally, Dubai has established its first hospital in the metaverse; as a digital twin of the physical hospital, it allows patients to experience its services before travelling to the physical space, including consulting with their doctors through VR.

As the metaverse emerges as a transformative force in various industries including healthcare, its impacts on the health workforce are becoming increasingly evident. From virtual consultations to immersive training experiences, the metaverse has the potential to reshape the roles, responsibilities, and interactions of our health workforce. Understanding these impacts and implications is important for preparing for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. So, how do you think the metaverse might enhance or disrupt traditional healthcare delivery models in NSW? How do you think the metaverse might impact interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals?

The prosumer era in healthcare

The term "prosumer" (coined in 1980 by the futurist Alvin Toffler) combines "producer" and "consumer," reflecting the active role individuals play in not only consuming healthcare services but also generating health-related data and content. The idea of a “prosumer” in healthcare is gaining traction, as patients are taking a more active role in their own care and as partners in co-creating value. By taking an active role in their healthcare, prosumers can improve the patient experience and contribute to the design and delivery of healthcare services. Prosumers of healthcare can also play an active role in the prevention side of their own health by educating themselves about their conditions, communicating effectively with their healthcare providers, and making informed decisions about their treatment options.

The prosumer phenomenon is driven by several factors, notably the proliferation of health-tracking devices, mobile apps (mHealth), and online health communities. These tools empower individuals to monitor various aspects of their health, from physical activity and vital signs to sleep patterns and dietary habits. Armed with this data, prosumers take charge of their wellbeing, making informed decisions to improve their health outcomes and quality of life. As prosumers actively engage in self-diagnosis and treatment-seeking behaviours, what role can healthcare providers play in guiding patients towards evidence-based practices and exercising clinical judgement?

In NSW, we are also experiencing the roll out of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) by eHealth, which will give patients access to relevant data to help self-manage their health and support decision-making. As prosumers expect greater transparency, accessibility, and convenience in healthcare delivery, how can we leverage technology such as the SDPR to meet these expectations while maintaining quality of care?

The convergence of generative AI and brain-computer interface technology

In recent years, the convergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has sparked a wave of excitement and innovation across various fields. The fusion between these two cutting-edge technologies is said to have marked a pivotal moment in merging human cognition with digital technology. A century ago, placing machine-made parts into a human body would have been viewed as science fiction. Today implantable electronic medical devices are widely accepted. But the next generation of these devices, powered by artificial intelligence, will once again push the boundaries of our imagination.

BCIs offer a direct channel for communication between the human brain and external devices, enabling individuals to control computers, prosthetic limbs, and other tools through thought alone (or neural signals to be precise). Advancements in BCI technology have led to remarkable achievements, such as enabling a person with paralysis to regain mobility through the utilisation of brain and spine implants. And the most recent development has allowed an individual to control a computer mouse solely through their thoughts after the implantation of a wireless BCI.

Whilst the convergence of AI and BCI is still emerging, the potential benefits are vast. So, how can we ensure that our workforce is adequately prepared and equipped to leverage the transformative potential of such technologies and stay ahead in an increasingly digital and innovative healthcare landscape? In a future where medical technologies are rapidly developed, how can we support our workforce to adapt to meet the evolving needs and expectations of patients?