Urologists may have a difficult road ahead of them
By: Cory Ellerd
Submitted: 2010-04-06 13:20:08 | Word Count: 638
Urology, the surgical specialization of the urinary vessels and the male reproductive system, is a steadily developing discipline for doctors in the United States. Now, approximately forty-three million men are afflicted with urological maladies of some sort. Some of these non-surgical disorders include bladder incontinence, urinary tract infections, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The practices that are normally surgical include managing cancer, fixing congenital abnormalities, and some forms of incontinence corrections. Some Urologists go on to additionally specialize in one of eight sub-specialties. Further specialization is rare in lesser hospitals and practices, usually being found primarily in larger metropolitan areas.
Urology Demographics
[ advertisement ]
The NKF (National Kidney Foundation) states that urologic disorders and conditions afflict 5% or more of the United States population, resulting in more than 260,000 losses of life. Ethnic socioeconomic groups are at a more advanced risk. The principal contributing factor is age. The pharmaceutical trade is making a large profit off of these matters, with revenues in 2008 reaching 1.6 billion dollars, and at this pace, by 2015 they will reach almost 3 billion.
Weak Economy and Aging Population
The worsening economy has had its effects on the field of Urology, and it is not expected to get better any time soon. Fewer jobs and accessibility to healthcare is on the rise. Many doctors are denying acceptance to new patients on Medicare and Medicaid because of the inferior profit margins. With fewer physicians accepting patients on Medicare and Medicaid, Urology practices are anticipated to become overburdened. Many specialties are expecting this same forecast, such as Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care, Family Practice, and Internal Medicine.
The baby boomers are also appearing to put a weighty strain on this field. With the dramatically increasing proportion of older patients, we are experiencing an influx of one age group, 65 and older, like we have never seen. Since a large part, if not the majority, of Urologic disorders, diseases, and conditions affect patients 45 and older, we are going to see the need for Urologists increase as well. The cost of services from these clinics is projected to grow also. With the economic principles of supply and demand at work, a smaller quantity of providers matched with a pronounced demand will result in significantly higher cost. Value of these services is irrelevant, being as value and cost operate independently. With a value, what it is worth to a consumer, lower than the cost, what a consumer must pay or sacrifice for it, more people will be ignoring urological disorders far more than they should. This will most likely result in permanent damage, increased and more invasive treatments, and/or emergency room visits. E.R.'s are highly overburdened as it is, especially with the baby boomer demographic at its peak.
Health Insurance Reform
However, even with the health proposals finally signed into law, its effect on our health care is not yet recognized. By 2014 there will be a tremendous boost in the enrollment into health care insurance programs. This growth, when combined with the long term aging of the people, should push the demand for services and therefore cost higher. However, no one yet knows what will happen to reimbursement rates from Medicare and this new program. The conflict is this; will there be rate a cut of reimbursement rates for different specialties by Medicare? And will this new program conversely become a decreasing factor of the income of all specialties including Urology, its related specialties, and subspecialties? Only time will tell.
