Texas Health Resources - The Business of Healthcare

The Business of Health Care Report
The Future of Health Care - April 2002

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I'm Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with "The Business of Health Care Report" on News Radio 1080 KRLD. Today I want to focus on what's ahead for health care.

Many health care futurists predict tremendous change for patients and health care providers in the next few years. The push for more convenient, less invasive medicine will be fueled by the large number of baby boomers who will begin to need treatment and long-term therapy for a variety of chronic illnesses.

According to a study prepared by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, some of the most interesting new technologies currently being used or on the horizon include:

the use of computers to design drugs that target a particular receptor

the use of new imaging technologies to look at form and function of organs that were once examined only in surgery

the use of miniaturized devices, digitized imaging and vascular catheters in brain and heart surgery as well as some imaging procedures

The report also cites these developments as dramatic changes for the future:

the identification and testing of genes and genetic interactions that cause disease

the use of site-specific genes to treat a variety of inherited or acquired diseases

the use of vaccines to bolster immune systems, target tumors or immunize against viruses

the development of a blood substitute

and the transplantation of tissues and organs from animals into humans

In addition to high technology, hospitals will focus on high touch and the entire care experience. Patients will choose health care providers based on published results and levels of service.

Patients and their families can look forward to treatment and recovery in more healing environments that recognize individual cultural and personal choices, caring for the whole person - body, mind and spirit.

E-mail me your thoughts on the future of health care. Send your e-mails to Doug Hawthorne - H-A-W-T-H-O-R-N-E at TexasHealth.org.

For Texas Health Resources and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO Doug Hawthorne with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.

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