Shift in Traditional Healthcare Facilities, Research Paper Example

Shift in Traditional Healthcare Facilities to Alternative Locations

Healthcare in America is big business and today’s consumers are more health-conscious than ever before. Individuals and families look for ways to become and remain healthier by living healthy lifestyles that include eating healthy, exercising and being proactive with health maintenance, as well as responding in a timely manner to any health issues. People are also interested in prevention and take measures to help ensure they avoid various health conditions. Additionally, the high cost of healthcare is another motivator for wanting to remain as healthy as possible. This equates to a trend in the demand for alternative medical services that traditional treatment facilities, such as hospitals and doctor’s offices, may not offer. Patient demand for alternative healthcare has led to the growth of the alternative healthcare facilities market, which includes traditional treatment facilities integrating alternative therapies into their service options(Money & Company, 2011).

The trend toward the demand for alternative healthcare therapies is increasing, as a recent report by the National Hospital Association shows 42 percent of U.S. hospitals now offer alternative therapies. This is a 37 percent increase from 2007 survey results(Money & Company, 2011).

Alternative Healthcare Therapies

Alternative healthcare therapies include such as acupuncture, meditation, chiropractic, homeopathic, yoga, relaxation, aromatherapy, massage, naturopathic, electromagnetic, and therapeutic touch. Alternative healthcare therapies are mostly associated with mind-body interventions and biologically-based interventions that use natural remedies in herbs, foods and vitamin supplements. In addition, other alternative healthcare therapies use body manipulation and energy field interventions. These alternative therapies may be included in the CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) approach (NCCAM).

Growing patient demand for alternative healthcare services has outgrown the capabilities of what hospitals can provide. This has sparked a market for more specialized facilities to supply the need, such as yoga centers, massage centers, chiropractic and accupuncture centers, naturalist centers, immedicate care facilities, retail clinics, home health providers, and long-term care facilities.

Research in the area of mind-body approaches to alternative therapy shows promise in the area of pain management.One of the most popular choices in alternative therapy treatments is massage therapy for pain management, currently offered in at least 65 percent of hospitals in the U.S. (Money & Company, 2011). The alternative medical therapies trend is attributed, in part, to patients having more readily available access to the health information, and therefore, are empowered to demand personalized care. This includes taking advantage of the benefits of alternative care, as evident in the chart (NIH, 2013) below.

Complementary vs. Alternative Therapies

Neither of these two therapeutic approaches are the same as traditional or conventional medicine. Complementary therapies are “out-of-the-box”, non-mainstream approaches that work in tandem with conventional approaches. Alternative therapies are non-mainstream approaches used in place of conventional approaches (NIH, 2013). This is part of the trend in patients’ shift from traditional healthcare facilities in search for alternative treatments. With the amount of health information available on the internet and through other mediums, patients are empowered to learn about their health concerns and are more aware than patients were in the past. In addition, patients are cost-conscious and can easily compare costs when they research health-related information. They demand the best care at reasonable costs to them. This is another reason why alternative healthcare facilities have gained so much popularity. Almost 40 percent of Americans use alternative healthcare approaches to treat specific conditions or to take care of their overall well-being, and many specialty treatment centers, such as cancer centers, integrate alternative therapieswith conventional therapies (NIH, 2013).

As mentioned, costs for healthcare treatments are a concern and patients often opt to use the services of alternative healthcare facilities rather than going to see their primary care physicians or making a trip to the hospital emergency room. This saves the patient from costly co-pay and co-insurance fees, in many cases. Additionally, patients can often be seen quicker at alternative care facilities, as making an appointment at the doctor’s office could take days or weeks to get in to see the doctor, who may refer them to a specialist anyway. The reasonable costs and efficiency of using alternative healthcare facilties are, therefore, viable motivators driving the trend of shifting toward alternative healthcare facilities treatement in the U.S.

Alternative Healthcare Facilities

The alternative medicine industry is a consumer-driven market that has spawn various innovative, non-traditional healthcare delivery solutions. This opened up a tremendous opportunity for alternative healthcare facilities to develop and thrive in the market, while taking advantage of the revenue source the industry brings. In addition, alternative healthcare facilities have formed partnerships with hospitals and other health providers and retailers to further capitalize on this trend, through the development of retail clinics. This translates into lower costs and convenience to consumers, which is something they demand(LaPenna, 2010).

Other alternative healthcare facilities in this category are mobile health clinics and air transport units. Additionally, emergency service vehicles are better equipped with high-tech communication systems, as well as sophisticated diagnostic and treatment capability. The high-tech communication systems are capable of downloading patient health information by accessing hospital records(LaPenna, 2010). This can save valuable time in emergency situations and help save lives, which is another positive feature about alternative healthcare facilities that drives consumers’ interests.

Industry Trends and Statistics

According to NAICS (2013), the alternative healthcare industry is becoming increasing accepted, particularly because healthcare reform law prohibits discriminatory practices by insurance companies against licensed alternative healthcare providers. Therefore, support for the industry is poised for continued growth. There are various key factors that influence the alternative healthcare market, according to the latest industry trends and statistics, as follows:

• The alternative healthcare provider market in the U.S. is a $12 billion market with a current annual growth rate of 2.3%.
• The industry employs approximately 221,906 people in 178,284 businesses across the country.
• It is estimated that 40% of adults and 10% of children in the U.S. regularly use or participate in some form of alternative healthcare (i.e., yoga classes, herbal remedies, chiropractor visits, etc.).

Conclusion

One of the best things consumers can do for themselves and their families is taking active roles in their own healthcare and healthcare choices. This is what drives the alternative healthcare industry; the fact that people demand more information, better service and lower costs. As mentioned, people actively search for better and newer ways of handing health issues or preventing them. This is something of which the healthcare industry has become aware, and steps have been taken to capitalize on this trend as a valuable revenue source. Times are constantly changing with new technologies, innovations, inventions, discoveries and developments, and the healthcare industry must continually evolve with the changing times to keep up with consumer demand and competition in the market. Alternative healthcare facilities are definitely a product of this initiative.

People like to have options when it comes to something that is important to them, such as healthcare, and they demand these options in the current healthcare market. This is why it is important for the healthcare industry to take heed of what consumers need and want in the area of health management and treatment. Implications for the future of alternative healthcare locations will depend on reduced costs and innovative services offered, and time is likely to show that consumers will have it no other way.

References

LaPenna, A. M. (2010, Jan/Feb). “Alternative” Healthcare: Access as a Revenue Source in a Consumer-Driven Market. Journal of Healthcare Management, 55(1), 7-10.

Money & Company. (2011, September 7). Alternative medical services growing at U.S. hospitals – See more at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/workers-expected-to-pay-greater-share-of-health-insurance-premiums-in-2012-employers-expected-to-shi.html#sthash.QEQge0pJ.dpuf. Retrieved from Los Angeles Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/workers-expected-to-pay-greater-share-of-health-insurance-premiums-in-2012-employers-expected-to-shi.html

NAICS. (2013, September). Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US: Market Research Report. Retrieved from IBISWorld: http://www.ibisworld.com/industry/default.aspx?indid=1565

NCCAM. (n.d.). What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)? National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Retrieved from http://cim.ucdavis.edu/clubs/camsig/whatiscam.pdf

NIH. (2013, May). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? Retrieved from National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam