Changing Consumer Demand
Today's consumer concerns include the availability of information to
make choices, improved outcomes in patient treatments, alternative medical
options, ethics revolving around genetics and cloning, and patient information
access and privacy issues. Other growing demands centre on slowing the
aging process, the aging population and the need for quality care for
aging parents.
In a strange paradox, the high cost of technological advancements in
medicine and the need to reduce health care spending are advancing the
consumer preference to have holistic, complementary forms of medicine
available alongside traditional medicine.
Economic pressure to save money by using midwives instead of specialists
is supporting public pressure for mother-controlled and family-oriented
birthing centres. Midwifery has become a regulated health care profession
in provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia. This type of changing
consumer demand illustrates the increased need for specialty training
and continuing education that health care professionals will have to
obtain to meet new practice requirements.
Table
3: Impact of Labour Market Trends on Occupations in the Health and Medical
Sector
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