WHERE WE ARE

With so much information available on the internet and nearly fifty million uninsured Americans (and many more underinsured), more and more of us are beginning to take personal ownership of our healthcare. New approaches to chronic problems including allergies, asthma, and excess weight are emerging, and our relationships with health care providers are changing. Our growing interest in preventative, alternative, and complementary medicine has put the spotlight on home remedies and traditional treatments that are more in tune with our bodies and our environment.

WHERE WE ARE GOING

Because healthcare now accounts for about 20% of GDP, the shift in emphasis from acute illness to ongoing wellness will have significant effects on society and the economy. Many products and services, from acupuncture to green tea to spas to yoga will benefit from the growing desire on the part of many to detoxify from our modern way of life. It is estimated that one-third of cancers are influenced by nutrition, and some experts believe that many more are influenced by toxins in the environment. Public health agencies are therefore beginning to take nutrition, preventative medicine, and environmental health more seriously. Combined with increased focus on medical errors and weaknesses in the drug approval process, it would appear that major changes in health care policy are eminent.