The healthcare industry is at a crossroads. Costs continue to spiral upward, yet quality of care has, at best, held steady, and in some cases, has decreased. As a result, patient frustration with the healthcare experience has reached an all-time high.
What might explain this puzzling phenomenon? As medical knowledge increases and more money is invested into the healthcare system, why are we not seeing an improvement in outcomes? There are multiple causes. Many point to our aging population, and a corresponding increase in chronic diseases, as one of the contributing factors. Indeed, it is projected that by 2030, 60% of the Baby Boomer generation will be managing at least one chronic condition.1 Managing these diseases over an extended period of time represents a growing tax on the healthcare system.