Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the buzz right now. Advances are happening at a rapid pace generating excitement, uncertainty and fear. As a profession, oncology social work prides itself on relationships – the ones we build with patients and communities and the ones we help patients build with their communities, families and providers.
This year an estimated 2 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States. Advancements in prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship continue, but not everyone has benefited. For many people with cancer, care is often fragmented and poorly coordinated, with barriers to receiving timely, patient-centered services.
Every day, we are faced with guiding our patients through a treatment marathon that can be overwhelming. “Take one medication X hours before chemo. Take another medication X hours after chemo. Keep track of your protein intake. Drink this shake if you are eating too little but be careful not to eat too much.
From ChatGPT, “AI, or artificial intelligence, is the creation of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. It involves programming computers to mimic cognitive functions like learning and problem-solving, enabling them to adapt and improve over time without explicit programming for every …
An Introduction to AI for Oncology Social Workers Read More »
Most people will agree that the COVID-19 pandemic was, on net, damaging to most individuals’ psychosocial relationships. However, in the face of a pandemic that demanded social isolation emerged a normalization of technology as a means of bringing people together. I cannot think of a better example of this than the virtual community that has …
Leveraging Technology to Create Community for Breast Cancer Survivors Read More »