Population Growth and Health Care

EFFECTS OF POPULATION GROWTH ON HEALTH CARE-RELATED BUSINESS

Rapid population growth in the United States is changing the demographic structure of American society. In turn, changing demographics will affect business activities related to health care (Davies 284). This research examines four areas of health care-related business activity on which the effects of population growth likely will be substantial. These areas of business activity are (1) hospitals, (2) vitamins and supplements, (3) assisted living, and (4) biomedical.

Hospitals as business activities provide various levels of in-patient care. Many hospitals also operate ambulatory care clinics and emergency departments. This examination includes all of these business-related activities.

The sheer growth projected for the population of the United States will lead to increased demand for hospital-delivered health care services. Increased demand will affect in-patient care, ambulatory care, and emergency care. Further, however, much of the population growth projected for the United States reflects a disproportionate growth among the elderly population sub-group. Increased growth of the elderly segment of the population likely will increase the demand for both in-patient hospital care and for ambulatory care delivered in hospital settings because, typically, elderly persons access the health care system at a higher rate than younger persons (World Bank 1).

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n Prospects for US Population Growth in the Twenty-First Century" 197-198). The increase in absolute numbers of the number of children and adolescents in American society also will lead to increased demand for vitamins and minerals. Parents tend to be more attentive to the nutritional needs of children than adults generally are attentive to their own nutritional needs (Motavalli 27-28). Assisted Living Assisted living refers primarily to housing and support for elderly persons who remain physically and mentally capable of some degree of independent living but who require some level of assistance on a regular basis plus quick access to support in emergency situations. Assisted living also applies to some impaired individuals irrespective of age. This examination focuses on assisted living for elderly persons. The relatively rapid aging of the American population implies the development of a steady increase in the demand for long-term care for elderly patients. The average life span in the United States increased from an expected 70 years in 1960 to 79 years in the 1990s. The expected life span for women is greater than that for men. The expected life span applies to individuals born in the year for which the statistic is

Category: Medical - P