title: The future of medical dosimetry.
abstract: The world of health care delivery is becoming increasingly complex. The purpose of this manuscript is to analyze current metrics and analytically predict future practices and principles of medical dosimetry. The results indicate five potential areas precipitating change factors: a) evolutionary and revolutionary thinking processes, b) social factors, c) economic factors, d) political factors, and e) technological factors. Outcomes indicate that significant changes will occur in the job structure and content of being a practicing medical dosimetrist. Discussion indicates potential variables that can occur within each process and change factor and how the predicted outcomes can deviate from normative values. Finally, based on predicted outcomes, future opportunities for medical dosimetrists are given.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC. Electronic address: robert_adams@med.unc.edu.
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Adams
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D011057:Politics; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D012922:Social Change; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000639:trends
keywords: Economic factors; Medical dosimetrist; Political factors; Social factors; Technological factors