Careers in Pulmonology-00-5921
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by: maximum
Total views: 3
Word Count: 498
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 Time: 12:32 PM
The demand for physicians in the United States that specialize in Pulmonary medicine is expected to increase in the near future. The aging United States population, the number of pulmonary-related afflictions on the rise, and the eventual implementation of the mandatory purchase of health insurance for all Americans creates a strong demand for specialists. After World War II, the United States experienced an explosion in the previously-declining birth rate. The seventy-six million children born during the years 1946 to 1964 are known as Baby Boomers. Major advances in health care in the past several decades rapidly increased the life expectancy of this generation. Many Baby Boomers have either reached retirement age or will reach retirement age in the next few years. The sheer number of citizens will require a large number of medical specialty practitioners, including Pulmonary specialists. It is a well-known fact that at least thirty-four percent of the United States population is overweight or obese. Obesity places a considerable strain on the cardio-pulmonary system. Unless this trend reverses, the number of patients expected to need the services of a Pulmonary specialist will increase. Three hundred million people in the United States suffer from Asthma and the numbers increase every year, especially in children. The reasons why Asthma is growing are numerous. With the ever increasing numbers, Pulmonary specialists will be needed to address this issue. In 2014, major changes to the American health care industry will be implemented to make care more equitable and affordable for all citizens. These changes are colloquially referred to as "Obamacare" as President Obama was the driving force behind overhauling the fragmented and extremely expensive United State health care system. All Americans will be required to purchase some sort of medical insurance, whether offered through work or through personal purchase available through special insurance exchanges. This requirement will vastly increase the number of people not currently covered under insurance, either because of the prohibitive cost or because they have preexisting conditions that prevent them from qualifying for insurance coverage. Many citizens not currently covered by insurance have pulmonary issues. When the changes occur in 2014, these citizens will finally be able to see physicians to address their pulmonary problems and receive treatment and proper medication. Like other medical specialties, the field of pulmonary medicine is expected to grow exponentially once the changes are implemented. With the sudden access to health care comes an expected increase in the number of patients that will seek help in Urgent Care and hospitals with emergency care facilities. Pulmonary medicine has always been associated with emergency care due to common afflictions such as respiratory failure. The number of specialists needed to care will need to increase in order to meet patient demand. Several factors that are currently at work and that will come into play in the near future are increasing the demand for Pulmonary specialists in the United States. These factors include the aging US population, an increase in obesity and respiratory afflictions, and the advent of Obamacare in 2014.
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