This is part of a continuing series exploring the Confusing array of changes to healthcare and identify the Opportunities for our specialty. The goal is to give you three things:

• The What
• The Why
• The Opportunity (for our emergency medicine)

There is a tidal wave that is coming. The baby boomer generation (those born 1946-1964) are now entering retirement age. Combined with increases in life expectancy it is causing an unprecedented  “graying” of the United States and most other industrialized countries. Just look at the last census. While the total population only increased by 9.7% those over 62 increased by 21%!  

In the State of New Jersey those over 65 with increase from 1.2 Million now to almost 2 Million by 2030.

So how will this impact the ED? Based on CMS data geriatric patients utilize emergency department services at a rate 7 times that of the rest of…