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The medical metaverse and digital twin are set to revolutionise healthcare. Like all emerging technologies their benefits must be weighed against their ethical and social, impacts. If we consider the advances of medical technology as an expression of our values, such as the pursuit of knowledge, cures and healing, an ethical study allows us to align our values and steer the technology towards an agreed goal. However, to appreciate the long-term consequents of a technology, those consequences must be considered in the context of a society already shaped by that technology. This paper identifies the technologies currently shaping society and considers the ethical, and social consequences of the medical metaverse and digital twin in that future society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, a large urban university-based hospital transitioned to a new two-floor emergency department. Despite the new environment, there were usability and workflow challenges with the space. The authors of this paper created a multidisciplinary, human-centered design collaborative of clinicians, university faculty, and students in an effort to increase emergency department efficiency. After thorough design-research and clinician-focused collaboration, the authors and design team identified the need to improve medical supply retrieval time, which directly impacts patient care and clinician satisfaction. The primary interventions consisted of a redesign that is as follows: (a) created standardized icons related to organ system, (b) increased visibility of supply labels, and (c) reorganized supplies based on usage data. Although a successful project, it was not without several barriers discussed in this article, including design researcher and clinician-level setting and engagement, academic/institutional policies, and conflicting schedules. In addition, the lessons learned from implementing human-centered design concepts into clinical workflow sets forth future research opportunities and inspiration for other institutions to collaborate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the Protestant mission hospitals in Iran during the reign of Reza Pahlavi, this article analyzes the concepts and ideas referred to as medical care in missionary narratives as well as reactions of the Iranians to the missionary medical initiatives. Trying to situate mission hospitals in the context of the rapid social and cultural changes that the Iranians faced because of the implementation of the monarch's reforms and the policies of centralization, statism, and social uniformity, the article puts emphasis on the fact that mission hospitals introduced a processual and negotiable type of medical modernity different from what was launched by the state at that time. Creating the healthcare networks in Iran, the Protestant hospitals produced the ideal—in the missionaries' eyes—types of medical modernity that might be presented as the social and cultural roles played by patients, converts, and nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a crucial tool in healthcare with the primary aim of improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare delivery. By harnessing machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and computer vision, AI enables the analysis of complex medical data. The integration of AI into healthcare systems aims to support clinicians, personalize patient care, and enhance population health, all while addressing the challenges posed by rising costs and limited resources. As a subdivision of computer science, AI focuses on the development of advanced algorithms capable of performing complex tasks that were once reliant on human intelligence. The ultimate goal is to achieve human-level performance with improved efficiency and accuracy in problem-solving and task execution, thereby reducing the need for human intervention. Various industries, including engineering, media/entertainment, finance, and education, have already reaped significant benefits by incorporating AI systems into their operations. Notably, the healthcare sector has witnessed rapid growth in the utilization of AI technology. Nevertheless, there remains untapped potential for AI to truly revolutionize the industry. It is important to note that despite concerns about job displacement, AI in healthcare should not be viewed as a threat to human workers. Instead, AI systems are designed to augment and support healthcare professionals, freeing up their time to focus on more complex and critical tasks. By automating routine and repetitive tasks, AI can alleviate the burden on healthcare professionals, allowing them to dedicate more attention to patient care and meaningful interactions. However, legal and ethical challenges must be addressed when embracing AI technology in medicine, alongside comprehensive public education to ensure widespread acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]