Healthcare: A Changing System
Healthcare is changing more rapidly than almost any other field. The field is changing in terms of how and where care is delivered, who is providing those services, and how that care is financed. These changes are being driven primarily by the growth of managed care. A number of other current trends are expected to continue, including:
Integration of healthcare delivery organizations to create accessible, appropriate, and comprehensive care pathways for all people
Continual advances in medical technology
Collaboration among provider organizations, physicians, businesses, insurers, and others to improve community health status
Increased emphasis on disease prevention and wellness promotion
An elderly population that will grow exponentially with the "Baby Boomer" generation
Better-informed patients demanding high-quality care
Pressure from business, government, insurers, and patients to control costs and demonstrate the value of the services delivered
Efforts to implement continuous quality improvement initiatives similar to those found in other fields