 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

 TELEMEDICINE Uses videos, audio, & computer systems to provide health care

 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

 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

 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

 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

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

 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

 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

 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.

 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

 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

 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

 HOME HEALTH Rapidly growing, less expensive measure, encompasses many aspects of health care