How will the changing nature of work being undertaken by humans impact the field of workplace health and those who provide it?
The traditional notion of work is evolving. Over the past decade we have seen a rise in automation of tasks traditionally completed by humans and an on-rushing of digitalisation. Technology has made this possible and digital advances are now evident in every aspect of our lives. It is predicted that tech will advance further in the next 10 years than it has in the past 30 years. This can appear quite daunting for some as people stand to lose jobs and hold expertise that is no longer valued. A study published recently by the Oxford University theorises that up to 47% of jobs will disappear in the next 25 years. What will change of this nature mean for workplace health and the health professionals who provide this service? In order to answer this question and predict where workplace health is headed, it’s firstly imperative to understand what contemporary workplace health looks like.
Effective contemporary workplace health programs are multi-faceted and proactive in design. Workplace physiotherapists have embedded themselves and their programs within workplaces to manage, prevent and predict injury. Features such as early access to physiotherapy, implementation of suitable duties if injured and improving workplace ergonomics are all staples of effective workplace injury or musculoskeletal disorder management. Workplace health programs have developed into providing input around wellness, diet, exercise and mental health. Companies who engage health programs see improved health outcomes for workers, decreased injury rates and improved injury related financial costs. The challenge over the next ten years for workplace health providers is to deliver for their clients as they decentralise, restructure and reshape through digital innovation. Achieving this goal can be made possible by integrating the benefits of healthcare innovation into the field workplace health.
Healthcare is already in the midst of a digital revolution. New technology, robotics, software and digital platforms are rapidly changing what it looks and feels like to be a health professional. Not too long ago a similar period of change occurred in the banking sector. Those who failed to adapt to digital platforms of banking were left behind. From a physiotherapist’s perspective the digital revolution has started with the use of cloud based software, computerized notes and exercise prescription software. When health professionals embrace change and technology our scope and overall efficiency improves. Here in Australia an example of the uptake of advancing technology can be seen in the public health sector, which utilises telehealth to address the lack of service availability to remote parts of our country. There is ample and exciting opportunity to drive the digital health revolution into the field of workplace health.
Both healthcare and the workplace are transforming. History has taught us that with change comes new encounters and opportunities. In the field of workplace health, it is likely we will see people doing new jobs and new types of work. There will be new challenges to be met and the requirement to keep people who work healthy, safe and productive will remain. Technology has the potential to disrupt and reshape industries, and how this impacts upon workplace health is entirely up to the professionals working to deliver tangible workplace health outcomes. There has never been a more exciting time to be a workplace physiotherapist.
