| By
Robert A. Jarmain, D.C.
The
chiropractic office of the future will house sophisticated
equipment, electronic gadgetry and elaborate computer
systems. These will replace the functions of the C.A.,
administrator and obsolete manual equipment.
Dr.
Silicon Chips is the director of one of many large
satellite chiropractic modules in the year 2001. He
is a small part of the electronic future about which
we fantasize. So come now on a journey to the future
and observe a “normal” day in the life
of Dr. Silicon Chips, Chiropractor.
His
day is quite typical with one distinctive exception
— he will actually be present at the office
today. Prior to his arrival at the office, several
mechanically programmed robots have been scuffling
about carpeted floors placing patients in the over
50 adjusting rooms. Seated behind his computerized
desk console, Dr. Chips calmly scans the mail which
has been previously sorted in order of importance
by his electronic “secretary” —
a sleek, super-efficient desk-top microprocessor.
He can immediately respond to top priority items by
utilizing the electronic network which reaches both
patients and associates throughout the world in mere
seconds. The computer terminal is capable of voice
recognition so it becomes needless to labor over keyboards.
As
patients enter the waiting room, a seven-foot movie
screen projects the image of the human body as an
energy system controlling a physical system. The narrator
describes the chiropractic experience in addition
to the inner workings of the facility such as office
procedure and professional fees. After viewing the
film, the patient is instructed to proceed to a designated
area, change into a comfortable robe and lie on a
suspended examination table where an electronic computer
records the case history and major complaint. Naturally,
this is placed in a memory bank with a photograph
of the patient and a record of his vital signs. An
office record identification card emerges through
a slot in the wall appearing somewhat like the modern
day credit card. This shall be the patient’s
“key” for future entry into the module
which is open 24 hours per day.
The
physical examination consists of a complete ultrasonic
scan of the entire body, detecting any pathological
processes. This includes instant computerized readouts
of the patients blood and urine samples. All resultant
positive findings and major symptoms are programmed
into a main computer terminal miles away containing
a memory bank of every known physical diagnosis and
its associated symptomology. Within seconds a diagnosis
is in Dr. Chips’ hands and treatment begins.
The
patient is instructed to proceed to the treatment
area, where donut-shaped electrodes are placed over
each eye, both ankles and wrists and at the base of
the brain. Finely calibrated electronic impulses are
fed into the brain and the adaptation to a slow synchronization
pattern begins. The nervous, respiratory and circulatory
systems now begin their response to this relaxed state
of mind. Stereo head phones pipe repeated messages
of relaxed concentration exercises to the precise
brain centers. The “De-stressification”
process has started.
Drugs
have become a thing of the past. Nutritional and chemical
imbalances are computer analyzed with each meal consists
of mega-nutrients and electrolyte fluid intake.
At
10 A.M. Dr. Chips arrives at the conference room for
a briefing with more than 50 patients at one time.
The room of course is empty. Dr. Chips communicates
to his patients in their three-dimensional image and
voice patterns which are projected holographically
by a device that transmits images from the adjusting
rooms. There is a tie-in to each of his module complexes.
As
the day nears its end Dr. Chips never once lifted
a pencil or requested help from a C.A. However, he
has adjusted by hand, individually every patient present
while viewing each record and x-ray on a computer
terminal. This permits Dr. Chips to see over 50 patients
per hour or about 400 patients per day. This has been
the extent of his personal contact without use of
an electronic intermediary.
The
longevity of the average human being is approximately
150 years and this is due in part to the “De-stressification”
process performed each day at the chiropractor’s
office. This has replaced the “two martini lunch”
and tranquilizers for means of unwinding. Exercise
would be replaced with energy balancing.
The
entire office visit lasts approximately 45 minutes
with all narrative reports, insurance forms and billing
procedures automatically completed and mailed (the
post office converted to electronic letter carrying
years ago). The bill has been delivered to the patient’s
home before he returns from the office visit.
Far-fetched?
Science fiction? Perhaps. This is a vision of the
future which electronic dreamers are conjuring up
today and is fast becoming more realistic as the electronic
revolution gathers speed.
The
electronic age of tomorrow was unable to automate
the most important factor in the control and maintenance
of good health — chiropractic adjustment. The
doctor of chiropractic possesses the most fantastic
computer of them all — a mind controlling skilled
hands which restores and maintains good health to
millions who eagerly await our unique “futuristic
healing art.”
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