Every day in 2012, another 10,000 boomers turn 65. Back in 2003, only 5.7 percent of the U.S. population was 65 or older. Pretty soon, it will be 17.5 percent. And you know what that means (besides a big spike in hair-coloring sales and instant billionaire status for whoever makes the first pair of comfortable high heels)? It means that what the Internet did to brick-and-mortar retailers, boomers are about to do to doctors: Rock their world -- and make them come to us, either in their cars or virtually.
Yup, house calls. Some of them might be video house calls using Skype or a videocam, but still you get the idea. No more driving Mom to the doctor and cooling your jets while she waits to be seen. No more rearranging an entire day around the need to get a flu shot.
Boomers are reshaping the health-care delivery system and doctors who visit their patients in their homes -- or nurses doing blood pressure screenings at senior centers or giving flu shots at drugstores or drawing blood for diabetes tests at churches -- are just a part of what the future of health care looks like, experts say.
Community-delivered services will take over for a lot of routine screenings that are now done in a medical-office setting. And as for the doctor driving to our homes, there are already starting to that through services, like Mobile Doctors, whose doctors have made 250,000 house calls since the company's inception in 1996. The service, which accepts Medicare's assignment, operates weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Patients are seen within 24 to 48 hours and most diagnostic tests are performed right in the patient's home.
It's the sheer force of boomers' numbers that will demand these and other changes, says Regina Herzlinger, chaired professor at Harvard Business School. Dubbed the "godmother" of consumer-driven health care by Money magazine, Herzlinger notes that boomers as a generation are busier and better educated than previous generations and not shy about voicing their unhappiness. They've seen how effective they can be when they stand shoulder-to-shoulder and are absolutely turning their sights on health care. What other changes are already happening and what can we expect to see? Check out our slideshow for eight top trends.
Loading Slideshow
Power Shift
Technology has placed mountains of medical information at our fingertips. Knowledge is power, even if your doctor thinks a little knowledge (yours, not his) can be a dangerous thing. The reality is that being able to learn things on our own alters the balance of power in the doctor-patient relationship. We can do our own research and ask our doctors more questions. We are getting second, third and fourth opinions online from other patients who have walked down these same illness paths before us. Heck, we can even sign up for alerts on our medications and be the first to know when a generic for the all-mighty (and all-expensive) Lipitor is available.
Comparison Shopping
Remember that joke that asks, "What do you call the guy who graduated at the bottom of his medical school class?" The answer is "doctor." Let's just say it: Not all doctors are created equal. And as the boomer bubble swells into the next stage of our lives, chances are, we are going to insist on the best. We have formed online communities to recommend hotels, electronics and pretty much everything else. You can expect to see an uptick on online communities that recommend doctors and hospitals.
Patients Banding Together
There are sites like <a href="http://PatientsLikeMe.com" target="_hplink">PatientsLikeMe</a> that hook you up with others who share your diagnosis. This site, with about 1,000 diseases covered, is especially noteworthy, says Harvard's Herzlinger because it just organized the first patient-run clinical test. Clinical tests have remained the purview of drug companies who hope to market a profitable product. In this case, it was a bunch of patients who wanted to test lithium's effectiveness in treating Lou Gerhig's disease (ALS). They found it wasn't, but the world learned in the process that patients can take things into their own hands and not wait for Big Pharma to figure things out for them.
Greater Patient Convenience
Baby boomers like convenience, which is why the house call movement is picking up steam. Also watch for increased evening and weekend office hours by doctors. Pharmacies already stay open late; why not your doctor?
Pharmacies Become Service Centers
Walgreens <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0110-walgreens-flagship-20120110,0,1421093.story" target="_hplink">just opened a two-story, 27,000-sq.-ft. downtown Chicago store</a> that represents the future of pharmacy. It offers a health clinic offering a wide range of services including vaccinations, health tests, physicals and treatments for common illnesses and minor injuries. The pharmacy also features an "Ask Your Pharmacist" desk, consultation rooms, a Health Corner space to host health and wellness community events and Express Rx kiosks for swift checkout. (There's a sushi bar and mini-spa to boot.)
Using Tech To Connect
Telemedicine enables patients to "see" their doctors using video conferencing or services like Skype. It eliminates distance barriers and could bring a higher level of care to those living in rural areas. It also could just make patients' lives a whole lot simpler. The doctor calls at a pre-arranged time. You can download your glucose readings straight from your hand-held meter into the computer for him to see. Herzlinger says that a phone call appointment with the doctor is in the not-too-distant future for minor health events, which would cost $30 to $50, she said.
Standardized Record Keeping
Keeping medical records online may have made the life of your doctor's office manager easier, but up until now, they haven't done much for patient health. The reason is that there are more than 2,000 IT systems in place tracking patients and those systems, unbelievably, don't talk to each other. Watch for a common IT system that enables all your doctors to have the same information on you. No more faxing test results between offices and having things lost.
Rewarding Healthy Lifestyles
Employers are already implementing programs that reward workers with prizes and low health care premiums for maintaining a health lifestyle, such as <a href="http://us.virginhealthmiles.com/pages/home.aspx" target="_hplink">Virgin's Healthmiles program</a>. A website called <a href="https://www.healthprize.com/consumer/login.do" target="_hplink">HealthPrize</a> collects daily compliance data from users, verifies their prescription refills, and rewards them for adherence with prizes. In the future, expect to see your insurance premiums go down if you agree to have your retina scanned when you go to the gym and wear a device that measures how much oxygen you have flowing through your blood to make sure you aren't just sitting on that exercise bike reading a book.
Make your standard of care better than standard. Be a good boss -- ask good questions, get good answers. By doing so, you can help ensure that you and your doctor are always diligent, and choosing wisely -- together.
The new initiative by nine medical specialty groups to reduce unneeded diagnostic testing and treatment recognizes that many medical tests and procedures are not only wasteful, but also cause more harm than good.
More than any group before them, so called baby boomers are transforming the "system" by virtue of having looked OUTSIDE of it for more than 35 years, creating the very bedrock and foundation of an established holistic health care process, which, while NOT endorsed or supported by "insurance' companies, has continued to create awareness, health freedoms, and prevention , as well as stronger health building practices.
This demographic group rescued midwifery, evolved massage therapy and the myriad sophisticated bodywork therapies which reduce pain and save people from surgery; it brought yoga and natural foods consumerism out of the hidden little huts it was in 40 years ago, and into the easily accessible mainstream. Traditional Naturopathy (ND) and Medicinal Herbal practice has grown exponentially under it's support, commitment, and watch- and now the torch is being passed to younger generations who are increasingly seeking education and careers in these fields.
Bottom line? The allopathic medical industry is no longer king of the hill, and no longer the only choice people think of when they are unwell or health challenged. The word "alternative" has gone out with the bustle, (so to speak)- there are numerous "systems' to choose from, thankfully, NOT JUST ONE!
maribelles: More than any group before them, so called baby boomers
The fact dear comrades, is that we were sold a bill of goods by our elected elite whose soul purpose was to create a society where our every need, cradle to grave is provided. The problem is you create a society of do nothings who want everything and that is a formula for failure. For everyone who does not understand the Karl Marx model of government, just look at all the countries who are now trying furiously to wrest themselves from the collapsing economies said model has produced.
It is all a ploy to subjugate us under totalitarian rule. We are walking willingly into the fire.
yrn2Bfree: The fact dear comrades, is that we were sold a
Tell that to Sweden, Denmark, etc. in Scandinavia where every citizen is subsidized cradle to grave. Their system works fantastially. Of course they pay more in taxes but they are guaranteed a free education and healthcare as well as any social needs, i.e., assistance if they lose their jobs, lower food prices/gas prices, etc. They are prosperous countries that take care of their people. I wouldn't mind paying even higher taxes under those circumstances.
sworth5487: Tell that to Sweden, Denmark, etc. in Scandinavia where every
Ever been there or traveled with their citizens? They would tell you quite differently. Their systems are getting ready for more rounds of austerity. They are able to maintain benefits due to large amounts of natural resources, small homogenous populations, and a lot of imported labor. Sweden recognized this in 1980s, Denmark and Norway are dealing with it now. They give up a lot of economic freedom in return for that security. They also have high unemployment, especially under 30. Large percentage on "disability" as well.
If US actualy used its natural resources, we would be a much stronger nation, and possibly able to have a stroonger and smaller safety net, and not be a welfare state. Not drilling for more of our own oil and gas is costing us 1.85 Trillion bucks per year to the Treasury....
doc4fitness: Ever been there or traveled with their citizens? They would
It's all a big pyramid scheme and always has been. The idea that you are "entitled" to the benefits you receive from these programs, especially medicare, is asinine. Just look are your medical bill next time and compare it to the amount of money you would have if you had actually invested your miniscule contributions. One surgery would pretty much wipe it out. Everything after that is borrowed from your children and grandchildren. This is, for the most part, NOT YOUR MONEY that is being spent to take care of you. It is a nationwide delustion that we can keep borrowing money from our kids.
HOBOJOISMYNAME: It's all a big pyramid scheme and always has been.
Miniscule contributions? Who the hell are you to say we didn't contribute enough or that we should have "invested" it elsewhere? We had no choice but to contribute. Then the government decided we wouldn't miss it as long as they replaced it after stealing it from the Social Security Fund in the 60s and 70s, diverting it to other government programs that had nothing to do with us or domestic policy. If there are leeches in our society who don't deserve a damn thing from the social services system, it's people like you who, it is my guess, aren't old enough or ambitious enough to have worked and made any contribution to society at all. And for your information, Social Security is NOT an entitlement, we paid for it through payroll taxes. Now Medicare and Hospice Medicare is a payroll deduction too. We put that money away for our retirement, it is OUR money. As for investing our contributions, (you mean forced payroll tax), we had IRSs and savings accounts that would have taken very good care of us in our old age until George W. Bush came along and ran our economy into the ground, essentially wiping out almost everything we had worked our entire lives for.
sworth5487: Miniscule contributions? Who the hell are you to say we
SS is an entitlement. It is actually a government Ponzi scheme. Money is taken from today's workers to pay for the retirees. The program depends on people working, as more people retire, become disabled, etc, the program requires more money from workers or more workers to supply the funds. As a worker it is my money, not yours, your money was spent long ago if you are a retiree by your generation's retirees.
If we changed to program to forced savings, meaning your 6.25% went to your retirement instead of a current retiree, you would build wealth and be independent of the government, and have something to hand down to your heirs
doc4fitness: SS is an entitlement. It is actually a government Ponzi
If the younger generation feel that us the boomers are not intitled to SS, Medicare and all that OK. Give me back the money that was taken out of my pay check every week for 48 years and the intrest it would have gained. I'll be happy, remember we had no say in the deduction from the fed's. But if you won't give me my money back then shut up and pay your tax's like we did. My father paid for my Grand father in retierment just as you are going to pay for me and your kids will pay for you. So it only makes since to keep everybody working now doesn'r it.
Mark_Wesly_Mason: If the younger generation feel that us the boomers are
Boomers were handed the world on a silver platter by their hard-working greatest generation parents. They promptly turned on, dropped out, became hippies and dopers, neglected their children, ruined our educational system, and generally made the world a worse place. Now they want to collapse our health care system. Losers.
joquintana: Boomers were handed the world on a silver platter by
Certainly I did use a broad brush. Obviously there are good an bad people in every age group. However, the attitudes and actions of many baby boomers have had negative impacts on the country. For instance, compare and contrast the baby boomer's attitudes toward the military with those of today's generation. The boomers that didn't run to Canada during the Vietnam war burned flags, spit on, and shunned those that did their duty and fought in Vietnam. Disgusting.
joquintana: Certainly I did use a broad brush. Obviously there are
not all of us, I worked just as hard if not harder than my parents, saved money to retire on, pay for my own health insurance, but the last 3 years I have seen my hard earned savings and investments go down the drain
bettyverret: not all of us, I worked just as hard if
Excuse me, but I am a boomer and proud of it. I have never taken drugs, rarely have a drink and worked at a career for 38 years. My parents could not afford to send me to college, so I was hardly handed things on a silver platter. I had to take the bus to work the first few years I started working because I couldn't afford a car and had to save up for it. Now when a kid turns 16, they think mommy and daddy are obligated to buy them a car. Do I feel guilty about wanting to get my Social Security and Medicare which I worked for -- no way!
libertymouse: Excuse me, but I am a boomer and proud of
Blame, Blame Blame, People have to blame someone. From what I remember my Grandmother and Grandfather received SS and Medicare when I was a kid. They paid in as I have since I have been working. I am 62 and am a 100% Disabled Vet. and collecting what I paid for and was promised. Am I concerned for future generations, yes. Do I feel guilty getting what id due and promised me, No.
Canefighter: Blame, Blame Blame, People have to blame someone. From what
Boomers. The 60's generation. Enlightened was it? Your generation is the reason MM is illegal and man-made poisons/pharmacuticals are thriving. Good job, boomers
antipodal2u: Boomers. The 60's generation. Enlightened was it? Your generation is
Boomers also invented computers, cell phones, and made many attempts to stop racism, war and bring greater freedom from over sized government to name just a few.
What have you contributed?
Tassajara: Boomers also invented computers, cell phones, and made many attempts
Uh, no they didnt and theyre the reason racism still exists. Greater freedom from over-sized government? YOU created the over-sized government, raped the land in pursuit of your greed. Allowed illegal immigration to thrive, exploited the illegals, vietnam, the war on drugs, terror and every other useless 'war on'. As generations go YOURS was the worst, left the biggest carbon footprint
antipodal2u: Uh, no they didnt and theyre the reason racism still
The boomers are causing the cost to go up too. I am one of them and every year older I get the crooks in the healthcare industry raise my rates. I am not sick I take care of my self have no claims to the crooks but it still keeps going up. $22,000 a year for me and my wife. If the company did not pick up my half I would not have any like a lot of seniors.
mikedom22: The boomers are causing the cost to go up too.
Over the past 20 years the percentage of subscribers' fees that is actually applied to medical care has fallen from 95% to below 80%. Add that to the necessary bribes to politicians, ever increasing CEO salaries, and the payments to PR firms that have been hired to bolster their plummeting image, health care costs have certainly increased. We need single payer government insurance. The middle men have made heath care unaffordable.
IdahoBlue777: Over the past 20 years the percentage of subscribers' fees
I guess it is a good thing. I can always connect with my doctor by email. And my doctor always ans. his emails each day. Sure helps when u live a long ways from doctor. I don't email him if it is something that requires hosp. I would call 911.
Norma_Corlis: I guess it is a good thing. I can always
Loading comments… 
First Posted: 02/06/2012 7:41 am Updated: 05/14/2012 12:31 pm