Abstract

The immanent pervasive use of information and communications technology (ICT) in clinical and remote care settings brings many challenges and new opportunities to all involved in health and social care. It also acts as a catalyst for needed changes in the curriculum to enable health and social care practitioners to be fit for purpose having acquired the appropriate information, knowledge and understanding. The tutorial will explore and identify the gains and losses with embracing new technologies in health and social care. It will consider the changing nature of healthcare receipt/delivery, the activities needed to retain a positive balance between practitioner provision and the emerging technologies. There is acceptance that in order to achieve purpose we must find wisdom in all that we do, an exploration of intelligence in health and social care practice will be undertaken demonstrating stages that need to be mastered to attain wisdom in ICT. There needs to be a start point to reaching our potential and this rests in the initial preparation of health and social care practitioners. Through inclusive debate, the tutorial will include why we must divide once and for all the 'computer skills base' from 'information understanding'. The skills can be 'self-taught', whereas the wisdom in information needs to be learnt within a supportive framework. An example solution demonstrating a longitudinal ICT module hosted on-line for the entire cohort of undergraduate nurses at a University will be given. In conclusion, some thoughts on the future developments of emerging technologies that may support health and social care will be explored and debated with participants along with a glimpse at the potential associated risks for future roles in health and social care if this 'nettle' is not grasped very soon.