1. TRENDS IN HEALTH CARE

2. AGING OF THE POPULATION
People are living longer due to scientific advances
Led to a growing population of older adults with chronic illnesses
Greater demand for health care providers and facilities
Older population projected to reach 72 million by 2030 and 86.7 million by 2050

3. NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN
High cost of health care and large numbers of uninsured people continues to place a demand for a national health care plan
High cost to taxpayers
Lack of free choice

4. PANDEMICS Monitored by WHO
Occurs when disease outbreak is spread to a wide geographical area affecting a large number of people
Major concern is that pandemics will become more frequent as our society is more global
Smallpox, bubonic plague, Spanish flu, SARs, H1N1, H5N1, Monkeypox, Ebola

5. PANDEMIC PLANS EDUCATION
Disseminating information out to the public to help prevent the spread of diseases
VACCINE PRODUCTION
Continually working to produce vaccines to prevent outbreaks of disease
PROTECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

6. WELLNESS & PREVENTION
More people are taking proactive approach to health care
Shift from treatment to wellness & prevention
Balanced diet, exercise, no smoking
Early detection
Routine exams save lives: blood pressure, cholesterol, pap smears, breast self-exams

7. COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
Holistic methods, alternative medicine
Promote healing through nutrition, exercise, or relaxation
Many are culturally based: yoga or meditation
Chiropractic or massage

8. SOME COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
HOMEOPATHY
Holistic system of healing: focuses on stimulating body’s ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances
Based on principle of similars (“like cures like”)
ACUPUNCTURE & AROMATHERAPY
Promote balance, peace, harmony & relaxation
Restful sleep, immune system boost, overall sense of well-being

9. NEW INNOVATIONS TELEMEDICINE
Uses videos, audio, & computer systems to provide health care
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES

10. HEALTH CARE SPECIALIZATION
Specialization in smaller areas has become rule rather than exception
Drawbacks to fragmentation of care:
Confusion about care & treatments
Loss of continuity of care
Conflicting plans of care
Too much or too little meds
Higher health costs

11. COST CONTAINMENT
Controlling costs while still providing excellent care
Why have costs increased?
Technological advances
Aging population
Lawsuits
If costs are not contained, they could rise to levels that prohibit providing services to all individuals.

12. COST CONTAINMENT EFFORTS
DIAGNOSTIC RELATED GROUPS (DRGs)
Attempt by Congress to reduce costs to Medicare & Medicaid
Payment is based on diagnosis
Being adopted by many insurance agencies
COMBINATION OF SERVICES
Avoid duplications, HMOs & PPOs

13. COST CONTAINMENT EFFORTS
OUTPATIENT SERVICES
Receive care without being admitted to hospital
MASS OR BULK PURCHASING
Combining purchases, computer inventories preventing waste and overstocking
PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
Preventing is less expensive than treating
Education, immunizations, health screenings, incentives to participate

14. COST CONTAINMENT EFFORTS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Utilities are major expenses
QUALITY OF CARE
Should not be sacrificed to save money
Agency for Health Care Policy & Research (AHCPR)—federal agency developed in 1990 to research the quality of health care delivery & identify the standards of treatment that should be provided

15. COST CONTAINMENT EFFORTS
HOME HEALTH
Rapidly growing, less expensive measure, encompasses many aspects of health care