Location
Philadelphia, PA
Start Date
8-5-2019 1:00 PM
End Date
8-5-2019 4:00 PM
Description
In the United States, the geriatric population is considered to include individuals that are 65 years or older. In 2016, there was an estimated 49.2 million elderly Americans (Roberts, Ogunwole, Blakeslee, & Rabe 2018). Since the advances of modern medicine are prospering, this number is expected to increase drastically.
Furthermore, the geriatric population is projected to double, from 2010 to 2030, to 20% or 72 million Americans (Horton and Johnson 2010). Looking further into the future, the American geriatric population is expected to be 83.7 million in 2050 (Ortman, Velkoff, & Hogan 2014). In a 2016 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, the American geriatric population self-reported the highest percentage of “fair” or “poor” overall health (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2018b). In response, the United States Department of Health and Human Services set up additional programs and resources to improve this rating; however, with the many health complications that older Americans face, there has been a surprising inconsistent quality of care for this population. The disparity becomes significant since many geriatric patients deal with chronic health complications. Previous studies show that there are both tangible and intangible factors as to why the geriatric population face issues with access to healthcare or the quality of care. This retrospective analysis looked at the different types of barriers for the geriatric population in the United States. This study investigated the barriers in rural settings, urban settings, and more specifically Philadelphia, where the medical field is expanding to better care for this population. Physicians’ behavior and attitude towards patients, “difficulty in getting to the doctor, the absence of services, lack of career progression opportunities for physicians, and the increased financial burden” are the many barriers, which geriatric patients face when trying to access quality healthcare (Douthit, Dwolatzky, & Biswas 2015). One might think tangible barriers, such as the cost of medical care, would be the major barrier facing this population. However, studies concluded that the perceived behavior and attitude of the physician is the most significant barrier that deters the geriatric population from wanting to receive medical care. Possible solutions to this issue include reform of healthcare policy and focusing on patient-centered care.
Embargo Period
5-24-2019
The Barriers that Deter the Geriatric Population From Receiving Healthcare
Philadelphia, PA
In the United States, the geriatric population is considered to include individuals that are 65 years or older. In 2016, there was an estimated 49.2 million elderly Americans (Roberts, Ogunwole, Blakeslee, & Rabe 2018). Since the advances of modern medicine are prospering, this number is expected to increase drastically.
Furthermore, the geriatric population is projected to double, from 2010 to 2030, to 20% or 72 million Americans (Horton and Johnson 2010). Looking further into the future, the American geriatric population is expected to be 83.7 million in 2050 (Ortman, Velkoff, & Hogan 2014). In a 2016 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, the American geriatric population self-reported the highest percentage of “fair” or “poor” overall health (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2018b). In response, the United States Department of Health and Human Services set up additional programs and resources to improve this rating; however, with the many health complications that older Americans face, there has been a surprising inconsistent quality of care for this population. The disparity becomes significant since many geriatric patients deal with chronic health complications. Previous studies show that there are both tangible and intangible factors as to why the geriatric population face issues with access to healthcare or the quality of care. This retrospective analysis looked at the different types of barriers for the geriatric population in the United States. This study investigated the barriers in rural settings, urban settings, and more specifically Philadelphia, where the medical field is expanding to better care for this population. Physicians’ behavior and attitude towards patients, “difficulty in getting to the doctor, the absence of services, lack of career progression opportunities for physicians, and the increased financial burden” are the many barriers, which geriatric patients face when trying to access quality healthcare (Douthit, Dwolatzky, & Biswas 2015). One might think tangible barriers, such as the cost of medical care, would be the major barrier facing this population. However, studies concluded that the perceived behavior and attitude of the physician is the most significant barrier that deters the geriatric population from wanting to receive medical care. Possible solutions to this issue include reform of healthcare policy and focusing on patient-centered care.