The Intelligent Clinic.

A Digital Worker is the steward that owns the journey.

The example follows a cataract patient from the consultation through recovery. The Surgical & Treatment Digital Worker remains a continuing organizational role. Its human supervisor is the surgical coordinator.

1. The clinician sets the plan. The surgeon confirms the lens plan. The Digital Worker opens a journey record from that plan.
2. The patient has a request. “Let me talk to my daughter.” With consent, the Digital Worker shares approved information and follows up on the agreed day. The reason for waiting remains visible.
3. One worker performs several functions. It coordinates scheduling, approved authorization work, preparation, and the lens order. These are parts of one case, not disconnected departmental handoffs.
4. The team asks for status. “What still needs attention?” The same Digital Worker can say that authorization and the lens order are confirmed, while pre-op clearance remains with the nurse.
5. A change has a scope and an end date. The coordinator requests family updates for this patient until surgery. Consent, the patient-specific scope, and the ending condition remain attached to the instruction. The instruction applies to this patient until the agreed ending condition.
6. People provide the care. The Digital Worker coordinates family updates and arranges a briefed call. The surgeon makes the call.
7. An exception reaches a person. A post-operative check-in needs review. The Digital Worker routes it to the nurse and tracks follow-through. It does not replace clinical judgment.
8. The case closes; the worker continues. After recovery, ongoing follow-up passes to the Patient Steward and the claim to the Revenue Steward with the relevant record. The same Surgical & Treatment Digital Worker continues with the next surgical case.

Illustrative scenario with synthetic dialogue. It is not a recording of operational results. Human decisions, consent, and approved authority remain part of the work.