What is the common thread among the most location-independent flexible roles identified in the text?
A shift from direct procedural care to consultative or data-driven care.
The fundamental characteristic distinguishing roles that offer the highest degree of location independence is the nature of the primary responsibility. When a professional's daily duties pivot away from tasks that physically require their presence—such as starting an IV, manually maneuvering a patient, or taking a direct image—and move toward interpreting information, reviewing documentation, or communicating findings virtually, their physical location becomes far less relevant. Therefore, the common thread for maximum location independence is the transition away from hands-on procedural care toward roles centered on consultation, interpretation, or data analysis, often facilitated by secure video conferencing or electronic record access.
