United State's aging population

[pcguy2]

With the aging population of the United States, do you guys think there will be a shift in the demand of specialities? Will we see an increased need for oncology, radiology, and geriatrics compared to before?

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[Law2Doc]

With the aging population of the United States, do you guys think there will be a shift in the demand of specialities? Will we see an increased need for oncology, radiology, and geriatrics compared to before?

It is already happening. But far more specialties than those deal with issues facing the elderly. Lots of organs don't work as well when you get older.

 

[postbacker]

With the aging population of the United States, do you guys think there will be a shift in the demand of specialities? Will we see an increased need for oncology, radiology, and geriatrics compared to before?

yes, and add ortho to the list (hips and rotator cuffs)...

 

[CoryChevalier]

urology....

 

[Law2Doc]

urology....

cardiology, neurology, nephrology. Anything organ based. The warranty runs out on everything when you get old.

 

[cardsurgguy]

Pretty much all specialties to different extents.

I heard a general surgeon a few weeks ago who said he was doing a procedure (can't remember which one) on a person above 80, which he said would never have been done on a person above 80 15-20 years ago since the same age now is healthier than that age years ago and their body can tolerate much more.

 

[pcguy2]

Anything in specific that will be hit especially hard? I guess it is true that all organs begin to lose their function. However, is there anything specific to the aging baby boomer generation?

 

[cardsurgguy]

Anything in specific that will be hit especially hard? I guess it is true that all organs begin to lose their function. However, is there anything specific to the aging baby boomer generation?

Anything to do with incontinence

 

[pcguy2]

Anything to do with incontinence

Haha....

 

[Law2Doc]

Pretty much all specialties to different extents.

Except peds.

 

[postbacker]

Except peds.

Tell that to my granddaddy in diapers who drools on himself...

 

[pcguy2]

Tell that to my granddaddy in diapers who drools on himself...

oh gosh..........

 

[Tired]

With the aging population of the United States, do you guys think there will be a shift in the demand of specialities? Will we see an increased need for oncology, radiology, and geriatrics compared to before?

Biggest scam ever.

I'm putting "No Geratricians" in my living will.

 

[Institute]

don't forget the specialties that will have to cater to the war vets when they come home. This coupled with the retiring baby boom gen = oh noes for medicine.

 

[Jasoos]

There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them

Humourous as that may be, do you think that the above could be a genuine concern?
Well, maybe not the specific concern highlighted above, but perhaps there are area of research or resource development that are being neglected today, thay may cause problems in an ageing population?

 

[Tired]

Humourous as that may be, do you think that the above could be a genuine concern?
Well, maybe not the specific concern highlighted above, but perhaps there are area of research or resource development that are being neglected today, thay may cause problems in an ageing population?

It's apples and oranges. It's not like, if we didn't spend money on viagra and implants, that's money that could be directed towards dementia research.

 

[Critical Mass]

I'm going to need an anesthesiologist to help me deal with the pain of my rising tuition and debt levels.

 

[Law2Doc]

It's apples and oranges. It's not like, if we didn't spend money on viagra and implants, that's money that could be directed towards dementia research.

Right. Pfizer and Dow Corning (or whoever makes implants these days) invest in research based on the likely costs to product and analysis of market size. It's not like big pharm wouldn't invest more in something like dementia research if they thought a product was within reach through a similar investment. Our research is market driven, not (for the most part) directed, although there are certain tax incentives to direct development of certain "orphan drugs" for which the market is small.

 

[Tired]

Right. Pfizer and Dow Corning (or whoever makes implants these days) invest in research based on the likely costs to product and analysis of market size. It's not like big pharm wouldn't invest more in something like dementia research if they thought a product was within reach through a similar investment. Our research is market driven, not (for the most part) directed, although there are certain tax incentives to direct development of certain "orphan drugs" for which the market is small.

In addition, there are directed government funds for research in specific areas. The National Institute for Aging has nearly a billion dollars a year in research funds earmarked by Congress; I don't know the exact numbers, but one would imagine that a substantial portion of this is dedicated to dementia research, and that none of it is tied up in reseach for breast augmentation (although I think "Geri-plants" would be a great brand name).

Too frequently the discussion of research funding and priorities is dramatically oversimplified or just plain misleading (ie - "only 10% of government research funding goes towards women's diseases"). I'm hardly an expert, but it seems like even 20 minutes of reading on the subject coould clear up many people's misconceptions.

 

[Law2Doc]

and that none of it is tied up in reseach for breast augmentation

Yeah, that is the flaw in that above quote. The money going to erectile dysfunction and implant research isn't coming from the same places. You can direct some amount of government funds, maybe incentivize businesses to work on certain things, but by and large the big ticket items are going to be cost and consumer driven money from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, not from governments or grants.

 

[cfdavid]

Pretty much all specialties to different extents.

I heard a general surgeon a few weeks ago who said he was doing a procedure (can't remember which one) on a person above 80, which he said would never have been done on a person above 80 15-20 years ago since the same age now is healthier than that age years ago and their body can tolerate much more.

Not to mention improvements in perioperative care and minimally invasive surgery, which is a lot easier on the body. That's another reason older folks are able to get procedures done that they previously may have been excluded from due to risk.