A new report published by AHA TrendWatch reveals that Medicare patients are living longer, despite the fact that the majority have a chronic condition. Individuals over the age of 65 are the most likely to have chronic conditions, and, according to the AHA report, four in five seniors have a chronic condition, such as heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. Although most seniors have a chronic condition, life expectancy has increased approximately 17 months for the general population since 2000. The increase in older, sicker Medicare patients means hospitalists are managing more complex cases. It’s a trend that will continue as the baby boomers reach the Medicare eligibility age at a rate of 10,000 per day. In fact, the number of Medicare beneficiaries is expected to more than double over the next 40 years. In the July 2012 issue of The Hospitalist, SHM immediate past president Joseph Ming Wah Li, MD, SFHM, warned hospitalists of the increase in complex cases. Li said hospitalists can expect to see sicker patients more frequently; several times a day rather than just once or twice. It’s safe to say this trend will translate into increased demand for highly qualified hospitalists and hospital-based nurse practitioners. Hospitals simply cannot afford to go without these valuable care team members. At Barton Associates, we expect the demand for locum tenens hospitalists and hospital-based nurse practitioners to rise as well. The time needed to recruit and hire permanent candidates will increase as demand for hospitalists grows. Quality locum tenens providers who can step in and deliver excellent care will be highly sought after by hospitals who wish to ensure they can meet the needs of increasingly complex patients.
About Ben Amirault
Ben Amirault was formerly the marketing manager at Barton Associates' Peabody, MA headquarters. He received a B.A. in English, specializing in journalism, from the University of New Hampshire.
More Content Like This
Possible Cons of Locum Hospitalist Jobs
In our last article, we broke down just some of the many advantages of working in locum hospitalist positions as opposed to traditional employment. Locum providers reap the benefits of not only extending their professional and life experiences as they travel on a flexible schedule, but they do so while simultaneously...
2022 NP Covid-19 Experience Survey Report
INTRODUCTION Effects of Covid-19 on the Healthcare Industry When the Covid-19 pandemic swept the nation in 2020, there was not a single US industry left unaffected by the economic ramifications of such a mass crisis. With millions infected, the healthcare sector was put under an especially severe strain as facilities raced against...
The Pros of Taking a Locum Hospitalist Job
Most physicians are knowledgeable about what locum tenens is, and have likely heard about the benefits in passing from other healthcare professionals. Perhaps a peer or colleague has told you about how they were paid to travel as they gained experience in an array of different work environments; or maybe you received...
Physician Assistant Salary Trends Throughout the Years
The average locum physician assistant salary in 2022 is about 83% higher than it was in 2014 in the United States. It’s also 80% more than what a permanently employed physician assistant still earns today. Average salaries for full-time and locum tenens PAs alike have both seen many changes between 2014...