Season 5: Episode 6 - Theology, Artificial Intelligence, and Catholic Health Care
As artificial intelligence is implemented into more and more aspects of health care, it can be difficult to keep up with the varying ethical considerations that arise. If Catholic health care is to thrive in this new era of technology, a robust theological perspective is necessary.
Dan Daly, Executive Director of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health, returns to Health Calls to discuss how Catholic health providers can find theological guidance and ethical clarity on technological questions. He discusses Pope Francis’s perspective on AI, why human empathy is crucial, and why efficiency and profit cannot be the ministry’s ultimate goals.
Resources
Visit the Center for Theology and Ethics in Health Care’s new website
Revisit Dan Daly’s previous Health Calls episode on the Center’s mission and values
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Season 5: Episode 5 - Spiritual Care and Emerging Technology
Emerging technologies can help health care providers with a multitude of daily tasks from efficient data processing to helping doctors with bedside conversations. But can it be used in the realm of spiritual care and whole person care?
Theresa Edmonson, Vice President of Spiritual Health for Providence St. Joseph Health, and Antonina Olszewski, Vice President of Spiritual Care for Mission Integration at Ascension, join the show to discuss the latest trends in technology and spiritual care. The two highlight the recent work of CHA’s Spiritual Care Advisory Council, explain why they feel hopeful about the future of AI in spiritual care settings, and reflect on how the foundresses and founders of Catholic health care can inspire us as we move boldly into the future.
Resources
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Season 5: Episode 4 - Energy Technologies for Climate Action
As one of the country's biggest producers of carbon emissions, health care has a responsibility to help solve the ongoing climate crisis. What opportunities exist for health systems to make immediate improvements to their carbon footprint, and how can they set themselves up for a sustainable future?
Dan Misleh, co-founder of the Catholic Climate Covenant, joins Health Calls to talk about the many partnerships his organization is rallying around. He highlights the non-profit's Catholic Energies program, lists the financial benefits of making sustainable changes, and encourages Catholic health providers to think about how climate action can be a way to live out their mission.
Resources
Get involved with the organizations mentioned in today’s episode
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Season 5: Episode 3 - A.I., Empathy and Goal-Aligned Health Care
When working with patients, it is essential for palliative care providers to have goal-oriented conversations. Without them, caregivers may not efficiently and collaboratively meet the patients' needs and goals for their own care. How can new technologies enhance these conversations, both from a productivity and a human relationship standpoint?
Matthew Gonzales, MD, of the Institute for Human Caring at Providence, joins the conversation to discuss IHC, the center’s successes, and its use of generative artificial intelligence. Gonzales lays out how “EmpathyAI” can enhance caregiver-to-patient interactions and lead to better outcomes for patients in a goal-aligned care model.
Resources
Visit the IHC’s official website to learn more about its work
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Season 5: Episode 2 - Technology, Change and the Catholic Response
As the world of technology spins faster and faster, responses can vary to the rapid pace of change and innovation. Fear, excitement, caution – everyone has an idea of how to respond. What does Catholic tradition and faith have to say?
Dr. Joseph Vukov, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University of Chicago and author of Staying Human in an Era of Artificial Intelligence, joins Health Calls to offer his thoughts on what Catholicism has to offer to this technological moment. Dr. Vukov and host Brian Reardon discuss specific ways that technology can benefit and disrupt the mission of Catholic health care, all while keeping in mind the truth of what it means to be "human" in a digital age.
Resources
Purchase Dr. Vukov’s book, Staying Human in an Era of Artificial Intelligence
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Season 5: Episode 1 - Maintaining Human Connection Amidst Technological Innovation
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by technology, especially when change and innovation seem to come so rapidly.
Tom Koulopoulos, founder and chairman of the Delphi Group and author of Reimagining Health Care, joins Health Calls for the premiere of Season Five, "Technology and Humanity." Koulopoulos discusses how he began to research health care as a futurist and why he thinks providers have an immense opportunity to utilize technological innovation to their advantage. He also names potential pitfalls of technological dependence while giving an optimistic outlook on the future of health care technology.
If you enjoyed this episode, you can subscribe to Health Calls on any of your favorite podcast streaming services or on our website, www.chausa.org/podcast. Give us a five-star rating while you're at it… we'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas about what conversations we should have next!
Resources
Visit Tom Koulopoulos's website to purchase Reimagining Health Care or his latest book Gigatrends
Read the Catholic Health World story covering Tom’s keynote speech at the 2024 Catholic Health Assembly
Subscribe to Catholic Health World for the latest stories on tech trends and innovations around the Catholic health ministry
Transcript