Cost control is also creating a more demanding nation of health care customers who want the most for their money. Cost-cutting improvements in the field are beginning to take shape with the advent of new technology such as the use of telemedicine. This process allows electronic images of X-rays and test results to be transmitted anywhere in the world for further consultation and diagnosis.
Consolidation is still a dominant factor in the industry.
Small, independent hospitals are being purchased by large corporations to form multi-hospital enterprises. As these hospitals merge, it is likely that costs will be cut, resources shared, and ultimately jobs eliminated. Health care services are still a major source of job creation in the economy. That distinction is not expected to change as the elderly population continues to grow faster than the nation's total population. As this segment of the population continues to increase, opportunities in long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and doctors' offices will also continue to expand.