We are all self-employed
In this article, I’m going to make the argument that we are all self-employed.
We have entered a new era in which traditional employment is disappearing. The seismic shift in production and consumption will lead to new forms of work, including self-employment, freelancing, and entrepreneurship. The future belongs to those who can learn how to prosper as entrepreneurs within the changing economic landscape.
Write an introduction to an informative and factual blog post titled "The Future of Routine Medical Procedures".
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Contrary to what you may believe, many routine medical procedures are actually quite painful - especially when they involve needles or other sharp objects (such as acupuncture). In addition, there are often side effects or complications that can make the procedure unpleasant or even painful in itself.
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One of those procedures is dental X-rays, which expose patients to the radiation of a series of X-ray beams. The use of dental X-rays has been documented for decades, and for good reason - it greatly reduces the time it takes to diagnose and treat tooth decay. It is estimated that dental X-rays, when used properly and with no complications, prevent approximately twelve thousand cases of bone cancer each year in the United States. This benefit continues to outweigh any potential radiation damage posed by such a procedure, particularly considering that several other medical procedures present such high risks (such as surgery).
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Still, while X-rays have been and continue to be extremely valuable in the field of medicine, many people are looking for a way to eliminate the need for X-rays, or at least mitigate side effects and adverse reactions. In fact dentists are beginning to look towards new technology that can replace dental X-rays altogether, like computerized tomography scans and ultrasound. The goal is to allow dentists or oral surgeons to detect problems like cavities or tooth decay without using radiation. These methods may take time to become widespread and accepted in the medical community, but once they do, it will be difficult for anyone to argue that their usefulness is anything less than that of dental X-rays.
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As this technology becomes more widely available to patients, it will have a profound effect on the dental industry. In fact, dentists might be able to entirely eliminate the need for X-rays and ultrasound. Instead of merely providing an image (which can be done with these new technologies), these methods may also allow doctors to create or produce some kind of 3-dimensional model of the patient’s tooth or mouth. A 3-dimensional model allows doctors to evaluate problems not normally visible by a standard 2-dimensional X-ray, such as cracks in teeth that could indicate decay, or cavities that are too small for even an X-ray to detect. In the future, it might also be possible to create a 3-dimensional model with other techniques like MRI or CT scans.
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As dental procedures become less painful for patients, dentists will face an increased number of patients who have never had any kind of dental work before. As a result, dentists will need to ensure that they are able to treat first-time patients in the most painless manner possible and emphasize the benefits of these new procedures. This may mean that dentists will need to find additional training in order to learn how to use these devices, and some may even be willing to update their equipment after they purchase it, as new technologies become available.
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In addition to the rise of new technology, there is also another change happening in the dental industry that could affect both how dentists and patients interact. According to recent estimates, about seventy-four million adults aged fifty or older suffer from untreated tooth decay. This means that roughly twenty percent of the U.S. population has very serious problems with their teeth and is at risk for bone cancer, as well as other serious dental issues (such as tooth loss).
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Given this high prevalence of dental problems among adults, dentists will face an increased number of patients who are eager to receive treatment as soon as possible. As a result, dentists may be forced to place patients who have never had any dental treatment before directly into the chair. This may be especially true for children and for people who suffer from poor oral health habits. In addition, dentists may begin to shift towards providing more preventative care, as it is more cost-effective than treating serious problems that can lead to more serious issues (like bone cancer).
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It seems clear that the future of oral care is not only about making things better, but also about better managing demand. In the future, dentists will be forced to work with their patients to determine the best way to treat them. Although this may seem like an effort that is focused on cost-cutting and protecting profits, it can actually be good for both parties. After all, if routine dental care and dental X-rays were never invented, thousands of people would be treated for serious tooth problems each year that would not have the potential for developing into serious health issues in the future (such as cancer).
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In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a significant increase in new technology coming out of NASA (see [1]), which directly resulted in one of our most important innovations: the personal computer. For the first time, computing technology was accessible to common people, which led to the development of improved software and user-friendly operating systems. While it is impossible to say exactly what will come from the advancements in oral health care that have resulted from NASA’s influence on medical technology, we can say for certain that this new technology will improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
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Aging is inevitable after all. So, it should not come to anyone’s surprise that the number of older people will continue to increase. This trend will also lead to an increased demand for medical technology as individuals age and as people in their families grow older. As a result, new technologies like computers and cell phones are likely to have a major impact on the healthcare industry in the coming decades.
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References: [1] http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/outdoor-travel/19971101_Outdoor_Science_1006.html [2] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/technology/12adc.html?_r=1&hp [3] http://www.healthbeatblog.com/?p=2472 [4] http://www.digitalmedianetwork.com [5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computing#NASA [6] http://en.wikipedia.
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We are all self-employed