Rethinking Healthcare Roles

Rethinking Healthcare Roles for Better Patient Care

A recent discussion with my cousin, a biomedical science student, sparked this thought: What if biomedical scientists and pharmacists stepped out of their labs and dispensaries to join ward rounds?

Their expertise in diagnostics and medication management is invaluable, yet it’s often underutilized. By integrating them into ward rounds, they could:

• Provide real-time insights on lab results, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses.

• Guide personalized medication plans, reducing adverse drug interactions.

• Actively contribute to clinical decision-making, improving patient care outcomes.

This shift is possible through automation—handling routine tasks like sample processing or medication dispensing—freeing these professionals to focus on complex, patient-centered problems.

For patients, this means faster diagnoses, fewer errors, and treatments tailored to their unique needs. For healthcare systems, it means greater efficiency and reduced costs.

Of course, rethinking roles and workflows would require investment and mindset shifts. But isn’t it time we explored the full potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare?

Have you seen this approach in action? What challenges or opportunities do you think it presents?