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AHA: Healthcare industry should prepare now for baby boomers

Healthcare Auditing Weekly, May 15, 2007

The over-65 population will nearly triple between 1980 and 2030 as a result of the aging baby boomer population, adding new demands and challenges to an already stressed health system, according to a release from the American Hospital Association (AHA).

A new report, conducted by First Consulting Group at the request of the AHA, details how baby boomers will impact healthcare in the coming decades. According to the report, more than 37 million baby boomers will be managing chronic diseases by 2030. The report also found that by 2030:

Aging boomers will also cause an increased demand for services, and the number of primary care and specialty physicians will not keep pace with that demand, according to AHA representatives.

With these increased demands, care delivery will be forced to change. Procedures such as minimally invasive surgery, new imaging techniques that "see" through the skin, and remote care technologies will improve the quality of boomers' lives, according to AHA representatives.

"Today's report outlines a tidal wave of health needs--boomers are just the beginning," AHA President Rich Umbdenstock said in a statement. "The good news is more of us will be active and enjoying our later years. But to meet the health challenges that come with that, we will need a greater focus on wellness and prevention, new approaches to care delivery, and a new look at the American healthcare system."

To access the full report, click here.

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