Five Health Care Trends We’re Watching

The 2024 election season is right around the corner. And while there are many pressing issues weighing on all of our minds right now, affordable, accessible, quality health care tops the list for many – especially for older Americans.

I spend a lot of time thinking about how to get more people the health care they deserve. But the health care field is large, complex, and ever-evolving. So, if like me, you’re in the midst of planning for the year ahead, it’s helpful to have a primer on major areas of interest and momentum in the field.

Here are five trends that I’m watching. Some have emerged recently; others have been growing steadily for some time.

Ongoing Changes in Where Health Care is Delivered 

Once upon a time, you went to a doctor’s office for check-ups and were admitted to the hospital if you needed tests or treatment. Today, we have a LOT more options for everyday care, and the list is growing.

CVS added mental health screenings to its free Project Health community-based health screening program.

Walmart is doubling the number of health centers it operates inside its Supercenters.

Costco launched a partnership to provide telehealth services to its members.

Dollar General is working with a mobile clinic operator to bring health care to rural areas.

Across the country, employers and communities are hosting health fairs and pop-up clinics that make it easy for folks to get their blood pressure checked along with other simple tests and screenings.

And thanks to innovations in policy and medical technology, even complex treatments are being delivered more and more on an outpatient basis. Analysis by the Advisory Board projects that more than one-third of knee replacements will eventually be performed in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers, and 30% of inpatient hospital admissions could shift to “Hospital at Home”.

Taken together, these changes make health care more convenient and less expensive.

Unpaid Family Caregivers Being an Integral Part of the Healthcare Delivery System

The shift away from traditional clinical setting also means patients are taking on considerable responsibility for their care . . . and often their loved ones are now critical members of the care team.