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have been reading around the forums and some people are saying that there are jobs in the medical field that can be outsourced. I know it's possible for every job to be outsourced (for example if 1/3 people in America choose to become doctors), but which jobs are most likely to be outsourced?
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<p>As was said by somebody else, any job that can be computerized can be outsourced fairly easily. Radiology immediately comes to mine - as Xrays can be shipped over the Internet and read by any doctor anywhere in the world. </p>
<p>Another major area would be elective surgery, particularly cosmetic surgery. These are procedures that you don't really need, that can be delayed, and that insurance won't pay for, which provides a strong incentive for consumers to shop around. Why get a boob job or liposuction or LASIK in the US if you can fly to a foreign country and get it there at a discount? </p>
<p>However, I think what is not gaining enough press lately is the rise of telemedicine. The fact is, many patients don't really need to have a live doctor in the room. With the rise of cheap Internet videoconferencing, many patients can do perfectly fine with a linked videoconference with a doctor, perhaps helped by an in-room nurse. Combine this with tele-instruments (where a doctor can obtain instrument readings from you from a distance). With the aid of robotics, researchers are even coming up with ways to do remote surgery. </p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemedicine%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemedicine</a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telehealth%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telehealth</a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_surgery%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_surgery</a></p>