The New Healthcare Consumerism: With healthcare costs rising faster than the rate of inflation, the healthcare industry is undergoing a profound marketplace transformation to bring greater consumerism to healthcare access and the delivery of services. It is a fundamental shift for employers, benefit plan sponsors and members alike that brings with it many questions: What does “consumerism” mean in the context of healthcare? What are the implications of consumerism across the healthcare continuum? What are the barriers to success? This perspective from Cardium Health sheds light on these and other key questions to put the issue of healthcare consumerism in context.
Health Literacy: There is a silent epidemic that is compounding the healthcare crisis – it’s called low health literacy. It is a reality that directly impacts individuals’ ability to comprehend and act on health information, navigate the complex healthcare system, and make good decisions about their health. Cardium Health offers this perspective in an effort to raise awareness about this important issue, put the problem in context of the new healthcare paradigm, and share our thinking about a practical and innovative solution to this growing national crisis.