The report authored by the Center for the Study of Health Systems Change on the impact of demographics on inpatient hospital demand (discussed here earlier) is revealing on several levels: technology v demographics; shifts in utilization by type of procedure, and the impact of an aging population on inpatient v outpatient care.
One of the key takeaways is the note that local demographics can be quite different from national trends, and can actually counteract them entirely. For example, Phoenix is growing so rapidly, and has such a youthful demographic profile (about 10% of the population is over 65) that health care planners may as well ignore the national statistics as their population is significantly different.
At the other end of the spectrum is Syracuse NY, where a stagnant-to-declining population coupled with little influx of younger residents has resulted in a population bulge in the over-65 group (over 16% of the population is over 65, compared to a US average of 12.4%).
While local health care planners and politicians (well, maybe not politicians…) are well aware of these differences, those of us interested in national health care policy and planning would do well to remember that all health care is local, and the needs of individuals and areas trump national trends.
Apr
24
