Enhancing Emotional Intelligence in Healthcare

Abstract

The healthcare sector is demanding, often leading to stress, mental fatigue, and burnout among healthcare providers (HCPs) like physicians, nurses, and psychologists. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is vital in managing these challenges, though EQ levels vary, with nurses being particularly vulnerable to burnout due to high emotional demands. Technological advancements such as AI, VR, AR, and mobile health apps offer promising solutions by streamlining workflows, improving accessibility, and creating a more positive work environment. Examples include the HANDS app for autism, BlueStar for diabetes, and Pit-a-Pit for Parkinson's. Human-machine collaboration has the potential to enhance HCPs' Emotional Intelligence and foster “artificial compassion” in machines, thereby humanizing technology. This chapter delves into how sentient healthcare applications can aid in reducing Stress among HCPs and how technology can be leveraged to humanize healthcare by fostering improved emotional intelligence.