Dramatic Changes in Healthcare
Each week we speak with scores of professionals in the healthcare industry. What becomes crystal clear is that the world we once knew is dramatically different from the face of healthcare today! Our clients, healthcare consultants and observers and the data point to the follows dramatic trends:
The decline of the free standing, independent hospital
In 1975 Definitive Health Care reported 7156 hospitals in the United States. In 2021 the same source reported the number declining to 6129. Of that number only 1500 were not affiliated with a larger, integrated system. The trend is strong and has been witnessed in acquisitions, mergers, purchasing consortiums and concession staffing groups. There is no reason to believe this trend will reverse. Rather the number of independent hospitals will continue to shrink, while the major players expand their delivery systems.
The trend is strong and has been witnessed in acquisitions, mergers, purchasing consortiums and concession staffing groups.
The era of the entrepreneur
Services lines previously only identified with hospital service lines now appear as independent clinics, store fronts and dedicated office buildings. A few examples of this trend are vain clinics, weight loss centers, bariatric clinics, ED and sexual disfunction services, cancer treatment centers and migraine clinics. Some take insurance and some do not. Many are owned or operated by former hospital physicians.
The power of support
The last decade has witnessed the impact that disease states have on family and friends in addition to the impact on the patient. With that recognition has come the tremendous growth of support experience and resources for those impacted. The fundamental understanding is that a caring and involved community can enhance the life experience of the patient, their family and their friends.
The patient/client as a partner in the cure
There appear to be a strong push which involves the patient/client “owning” a share of the tasks and processes necessary for improvement or the cure. Some call it ownership, others call it compliance. Independent of its name, the trend suggests the doctor or practitioner is not a "magician" and that the client must do their share to achieve better health. This can be seen in smoking cessation, diet nutrition plans, exercise programs and lifestyle change initiatives.
The presence of influencers
The array of skilled individuals interacting with client and patients has greatly expanded. In addition to physicians, patients and clients now interact with nurse practitioners, doctor assistants, GPS specialists, nurse extenders, nurse educators and the list goes on and one. Concurrently, the for-profit world continues to promote your "friendly and knowledgeable pharmacist" as a key point person in your path to good health.
The power of technology
The medical universe is probably at the epicenter of the technology revolution. From the latest in diagnostic tools to the wide array of new potential cures, everyday brings new imaging techniques, surgical robotry, better prosthesis and never-ending attempts to maintain the balance between Hi tech and Hi touch. This can be seen in patient portals, automated appointment setting, professionals communicating with patients/clients, and in robust and creative apps that link the universe of professionals with those they serve.
From the latest in diagnostic tools to the wide array of new potential cures, everyday brings new imaging techniques, surgical robotry, better prosthesis and never-ending attempts to maintain the balance between Hi tech and Hi touch.
Dealing with the great unknown
A list of changes in health care would be horribly incomplete without mentioning the unknown. The COVID pandemic tested every element of what we knew and believed about the role of a medical facility, the ability of a health system to adapt to unforeseen events of enormous proportion, and the ability to cope with the system's pre-existing staff shortages. Enhanced triage, expanded telemedicine, and decentralized testing facilities are just a few of the positives that evolved from that experience. The truth is that measuring the full impact of COVID on health delivery services is still a major work in progress.
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