Tired of taskforcing and thinktankery? Let the bot of the hour do the work.
This morning at TMR Towers the boss sat down and started playing with everyone’s favourite job-threatening language model ChatGPT, asking it to do little things like “solve the rural health workforce crisis”.
“This is pretty good,” he said of the results.
Your Back Page correspondent was just looking for an excuse to outsource her work to the bot again, so here are a few of our top health policy problems solved.
The astute reader will notice some similarity with things GPs and their representatives have been asking for for ages. *Cough more money for primary and preventive care cough*.
And as the chatter grows about the staggering amount of energy this and other AIs consume (ChatGPT is said to be worse even than Bitcoin for that), we feebly counter by waving at how much carbon is spent on flights to Canberra to talk around these fairly obvious solutions.
BP: Write a ten-point plan to make Australia’s Medicare scheme sustainable and make general practice an attractive choice for medical graduates.
ChatGPT:
- Increase funding: Increase funding for the Medicare scheme to ensure its sustainability and improve access to healthcare services for all Australians.
- Improve primary care: Invest in primary care services, such as general practice, to reduce the burden on hospitals and improve patient outcomes.
- Encourage preventive care: Encourage the adoption of preventive care practices to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases and lower healthcare costs.
- Foster interdisciplinary care: Foster interdisciplinary care models that involve general practitioners, specialists, and allied health professionals to improve patient outcomes.
- Enhance workforce planning: Develop a comprehensive workforce planning strategy to address the shortage of GPs and ensure the availability of quality primary care services.
- Provide incentives for GPs: Offer incentives, such as financial and non-financial rewards, to encourage medical graduates to choose general practice as a career.
- Support rural and remote areas: Provide additional support for GPs working in rural and remote areas, such as increased funding and incentives, to improve access to quality primary care services.
- Streamline bureaucracy: Streamline bureaucracy in the healthcare system to reduce administrative burden on GPs and improve the efficiency of the healthcare system.
- Use technology effectively: Utilize technology, such as telehealth, to improve access to primary care services and reduce costs.
- Foster collaboration: Foster collaboration between the government, medical organizations, and the private sector to ensure the sustainability and viability of the Medicare scheme and general practice.
BP: Write a strategy to address the Australian rural healthcare workforce maldistribution crisis.
ChatGPT:
- Increase funding for rural healthcare: Increase government funding for rural healthcare services to improve access to quality care for rural and remote communities.
- Provide financial incentives for rural practice: Offer financial incentives, such as loan forgiveness programs, to encourage medical professionals to work in rural areas.
- Improve rural training opportunities: Increase opportunities for medical graduates to train and practice in rural areas, such as through rural placement programs and rotations.
- Address housing and infrastructure shortages: Address the shortage of affordable housing and healthcare infrastructure in rural areas to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
- Foster interdisciplinary care: Foster interdisciplinary care models that involve GPs, specialists, and allied health professionals to improve patient outcomes in rural areas.
- Utilize technology: Utilize technology, such as telehealth, to improve access to healthcare services for rural communities and reduce costs.
- Increase workforce flexibility: Increase workforce flexibility by allowing for job sharing, part-time work, and remote work options to support healthcare professionals in rural areas.
- Foster collaboration: Foster collaboration between government, medical organizations, and the private sector to address the rural healthcare workforce crisis.
- Support professional development: Provide opportunities for professional development and ongoing training for rural healthcare professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge.
- Monitor and evaluate progress: Regularly monitor and evaluate progress in addressing the rural healthcare workforce crisis and make adjustments as needed to ensure continued success.
And finally …
BP: Write a strategy to mitigate the health sector’s contribution to climate change.
- Reduce energy consumption: Implement energy-efficient practices and technologies, such as LED lighting and energy-efficient equipment, to reduce the healthcare sector’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Adopt sustainable procurement practices: Adopt sustainable procurement practices, such as purchasing environmentally friendly products and equipment, to reduce the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint.
- Promote alternative transportation: Encourage alternative transportation options, such as carpooling and public transportation, for healthcare workers and patients to reduce transportation-related emissions.
- Implement waste management strategies: Implement waste management strategies, such as reducing, reusing, and recycling, to minimize waste and reduce the healthcare sector’s impact on the environment.
- Foster sustainability education and training: Provide education and training on sustainability practices for healthcare workers and institutions to raise awareness and promote environmental responsibility.
- Monitor and report on emissions: Regularly monitor and report on the healthcare sector’s emissions to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Collaborate with stakeholders: Foster collaboration between government, medical organizations, and the private sector to promote sustainable practices and address the healthcare sector’s contribution to climate change.
- Support research and innovation: Support research and innovation in sustainable healthcare practices, technologies, and systems to continually improve the sector’s environmental performance.
Plus one bonus question:
BP: What are your weekly carbon emissions, ChatGPT?
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I do not have physical presence or require energy consumption for my operations. The energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with my use are generated by the servers and infrastructure used to run and host me, which are maintained by OpenAI. Information on the carbon emissions associated with this infrastructure is not publicly disclosed.
To visit the oracle, go to openai.com; then tell penny@medicalrepublic.com.au what you learned.
