Will technology reduce the need for clinicians at the bedside?
The Great Debate
Seeing out the two-day Clinical Excellence Showcase was The Great Debate, featuring some of Queensland Health’s biggest names (and funniest people!). Then-Director-General Michael Walsh led the affirmative team's arguments for "The Robots are coming" - Will technology reduce the need for clinicians at the bedside? The negative team was led by Prof Keith McNeil.
Chaired by CEQ Executive Director Michael Zanco, fellow debaters included clinicians and administrators from across the system including Clair Sullivan, Lynne McKinlay, Gillian Nasato and Brian McGowan.
The teams pulled out all of the stops, even dressing up as robots, sharing scenes from The Wizard of Oz, and even quotes from Albert Einstein.
The Great Debate is a safe environment to discuss somewhat serious issues in a light-hearted way and has proven a popular and amusing way to close out the Showcase. But, the people have the final say as to who wins, with 54.3 per cent of the audience voting that robots would not replace clinicians at the bedside.
