"Guess who's in the health care driver's seat...you are!"
eHealth is creating smarter consumers. In turn, smarter consumers are demanding more from our health care system; a system that historically isn't used to being questioned.
In their publication Healthcast 2010, this highly respected firm forecast major changes in the health care landscape. The period of time addressed is "now", the decade beginning in the year 2000 and ending in 2010.
Presently, we have journeyed more than halfway through this decade . . . and each of PriceWaterhouse Coopers' forecast changes has come true.
Major forecast changes, Healthcast 2010
- The "empowered consumer" will drive the market place - for the first time in the American health care system the health care consumer will wake up to the fact that they are the ones paying for it. When they realize this they are going to expect to get what they want.
- "eHealth" - the internet is creating equal access to information to everybody. In the past we had a system where information was not readily available. Information was channeled only through selected pathways; there was poor access to pertinent information for the patient. Patients are now coming in with a better knowledge base. In turn, they're asking doctors, "What about this?" and "What about that?"
- Health care will become "more personalized": When discussing personalized care in it's "high tech" form, Healthcast 2010 speaks to medicine's ability to customize care based on genetics. At a less scientific level, but of equal importance this report states that personalized care also has to do with treating each person as an individual.
Healthcast 2010, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, 2000
(PriceWaterhouse Coopers is an international consulting firm.)
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By reading this you are part of the eHealth movement . . .
a powerful movement that is changing the face of health care forever.
"Through BACKBONUS.COM we are pleased to make our contribution to the eHealth movement. We think you'll agree that much of the information we are providing for you is information you are not likely to have seen before. It is our hope that our efforts will serve to challenge your current thinking about the treatment of low back pain - empowering you as the consumer." Dr. Oikawa, D.C. and Dr. Baar, D.C.
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