Healthcare Population Trends

777 Words2 Pages

Knowing who the people are, where they live and what they believe in are all areas of data that are collected in data trending surveys. Population trends have a direct effect on what we anticipate to happen in society and what trajectory healthcare needs are anticipated to take. Statistical analysis of data is combined with utilization reports and used to support increased accuracy in planning and estimation of the demand for healthcare services. Demographic, geographic and psychographic trends all have an effect on healthcare utilization, cost and usage and are used to determine what the needs of healthcare will be for the future. The demographics of a population are a fundamental determinant of the need, demand, and use of healthcare services. …show more content…

Changes in population size, age, race and ethnicity affect the health-care resources needed, the cost of care provided, and even the conditions associated with each population group (Demographics impact, n.d.). Demographics involves the specific characteristics of a population such as the age, sex, marital status, number of children, income, gender, ethnic background, education, religion, citizenship, and language spoken. Demographics are a major determinant of the size and characteristics of the future health workforce, and demographic tendencies can be trended with reasonable accuracy one or two decades into the future. This data is important to healthcare because it allows government and policy makers to predict future needs. If the population is aging, policy makers can ascertain that there is a good chance that there will be an increased need for formal caregivers, physicians, nursing care facilities and funds to care for them (Strunk, Ginsburg & Banker, n.d.). Monitoring and keeping track of changes in the demographic information of the population allows for an estimate on the financial strain healthcare will experience as more people become eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security. Other demographic trends …show more content…

Is it rural, urban? It can be broken down to region, state, city, county, community and even down to city block. Geographic difference in population growth rates are an indicator of healthcare worker demand and can help to make forecasting of healthcare needs more accurate. A good example of how geographic trend information is used is in the determination healthcare worker needs in rural areas which has spurred the government to give student loan relief to physicians and nurses who serve in those understaffed shortage

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