Assignment Prompt & Instructions
Remember to respond to Amie and Alexis post while being respectful of and sensitive to their viewpoints.
Post an article, video, or visual related to empathy, morality, or altruism to reinforce a peer's idea or challenge them to see their point from a different perspective. Paraphrase something from the original post. Then consider asking a question or sharing your personal experience.
AMIE POST
I believe humans are capable of genuine altruism, even though self-interest sometimes plays a role. Our ability to empathize comes from both biology and experience. Abigail Marsh (n.d.) explains that brain structures like the amygdala make some people more sensitive to others’ distress, motivating acts of kindness. At the same time, social and cultural environments shape how we express empathy. Liane Young (n.d.) notes that moral judgments are influenced by the norms and expectations around us. How we view others also matters—when we see people as deserving of care, we are more likely to respond compassionately (CrashCourse, 2014).
Our sense of morality is shaped by the people and cultures around us. Social norms, such as reciprocity and responsibility, guide our behavior and establish what is considered virtuous (CrashCourse, 2014). Young (n.d.) points out that people often follow these norms even when they conflict with personal beliefs, showing just how powerful social influence can be. Spiritual and cultural teachings also reinforce values like kindness and compassion, encouraging prosocial behavior and guiding ethical decisions in everyday life.
Prosocial behavior also ties directly to self-care and ethics. Helping others can strengthen our sense of purpose, boost well-being, and foster social connection. At the same time, ethical considerations help us act in ways that align with our values while respecting our own limits (CrashCourse, 2014; Young, n.d.). Balancing compassion for others with awareness of our own needs shows that altruism isn’t just about helping—it’s also about acting thoughtfully, morally, and sustainably.
ALEXIS POST
I believe empathy is a mix of nature and nurture. As people, we are naturally empathetic, but we learn how to apply it from the people and environment surrounding us. How we see the world influences the people we care most about. Seeing people and things as similar to us, meaning “like us,” is when we can empathize easier.
Our conscience is influenced greatly by the people surrounding us. In the video on the moral psychology of humans, it has been shown that we tend to react differently to the same thing depending on the context. We tend to forgive people more easily if it is a friend, family member, and not a stranger. That is what our cultures teach us.
Religious beliefs could also influence individuals. Plenty of religions preach things such as kindness, honesty, and assistance to others. When people look to religion to mean guidance, it is only logical to assume that such ideals will influence their ethics. Individuals following the same religion could mean differently.
I think that we as humans are capable of true, selfless behavior. Of course, it is also true that sometimes when we are helpful, it involves having a little pleasure ourselves, but studies show us the things we do are often due to true concern. What the videos showed is that true emotion is stimulated inside the brain when we are empathetic.
I picked emotional intelligence. Prosocial behavior is very much tied to the ability to recognize emotions within and among people. When we are able to recognize emotions, empathize, and respond to people with care, it is easier to take up people-oriented behaviors such as kindness. Emotions influence us to move beyond self and people related biases and respond to people with fairness.
With the next two post respond to Lori and Elias post
LORI POST
Clinical information systems are one type of IT system in healthcare delivery that directly influences healthcare delivery. Clinical information systems are systems that house information regarding clinical activities such as patient data related to admissions, discharge and transfer info, posttreatment follow up management, and disease prevention. Computer systems that house clinical information systems collect data such as mediations, treatments, symptoms, and vitals, and house and present that data for clinical use. Advanced clinical information systems even process this data to issue alert and even provide information that aides in supporting decision making for clinicians (Fraenkel, 2014). Clinical information systems have a profound impact on healthcare delivery. Whereas in the past, medical decision makers had to gain access to paper charts, reviewing multiple pages of notes, sometimes from multiple other medical facilities would take hours or even days to obtain, Now, clinical information systems store info from multiple providers and multiple care delivery areas such as hospitals and PCP offices. This information can be obtained with a few clicks on a button, having access to patient information, without long wait times, can prevent more damage to a patient's health, in medical issues where time really matters.
Technology diffusion and issues surrounding safety is the most important area of focus, particularly in areas such as AI. Specifically, there are issues and safety concerns regarding regulation. Models, algorithms, and application programing interfaces are all areas of concern. There are concerns regarding safe practices such as oversight and risk-management strategies. And finally, there are safety concerns regarding safety in regard to security. Without safe and secure use of technological advances, we run the risk of the advances causing more harm than good.
ELIAS POST
Clinical information systems have fundamentally reshaped healthcare delivery by improving care coordination, reducing medical errors, and enhancing real-time access to patient data. Electronic health records, a core component of clinical information systems, allow clinicians across departments and facilities to view comprehensive patient histories including medications, allergies, laboratory results, imaging reports, and treatment plans within a single digital platform, improving continuity of care and reducing information gaps (Menachemi & Collum, 2011). One of the most significant effects of clinical information systems is the reduction of adverse drug events through features such as electronic prescribing and automated medication reconciliation. Built-in drug-allergy and drug-interaction alerts provide immediate safety checks that help prevent medication errors before prescriptions reach the pharmacy (Bates et al., 2018). Standardized electronic documentation also enhances care transitions between inpatient, outpatient, and post-acute settings, particularly for patients with complex or chronic conditions who require coordinated long-term management. Research shows that comprehensive EHR implementation is associated with better guideline adherence, improved documentation accuracy, and safer patient care overall (Bates et al., 2018; Menachemi & Collum, 2011).