Aged care and artificial intelligence

Two recent items have caught my attention in months. The first is the role of oral health care for aged and second artificial intelligence (AI). There was a general feeling ‘reward hard work’ by dental profession following number submissions from interested stakeholders that resulted inclusion recommendations Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality Safety. It particularly pleasing to see recommendation at least one practitioner be assigned every provider Australia. An endorsement Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme commence 2023 also encouraging news. However, excitement short-lived when Federal Budget delivered with no provision it aged. Seems like step forward three steps backwards. Still, we should not give up call greater funding support care. For any us who had experience having family members care, astounding lack well-managed this very critical stage life all but reality problem seems poorly addressed overall medical management people facilities. Perhaps exacerbated an ongoing understanding sectors mouth connected rest body. I often thought how could issue better embraced? We some excellent examples where inroads been made sector poor delivery service persists. If relates what goes on person’s frontline workers, then why try simplify them? Is solution intelligence? doubt AI has potential make accessible effective there errors arise if algorithms developed are carefully designed implemented. dentistry its infancy rapid development high.1 said can more equitable tailoring specific patient populations (i.e. aged). example, knowing underperforming decades, looming community disaster waiting, develop specifically targeted towards predicting manifestations age diseases? As move exciting personalized/precision medicine will ‘one size fits all’ paradigm individual focussed approach processed discounted. In future, possible create target beginning progression inclusive programmes allow those familiar participate triage eventual implementation treatment services as needed ever-increasing our community. sees need sector, must look innovative ways implement this. may such way harnessed accessible, affordable effective.