Urology, the surgical discipline of the urinary passages and the reproductive system of men, is a steadily developing discipline for doctors in the United States. At this time, almost forty-three million men are affected with urological disorders of some kind. Some of these non-surgical maladies include bladder incontinence, urinary tract infections, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The procedures that are normally surgical include managing cancer, fixing congenital abnormalities, and some forms of incontinence corrections. Some Urologists go on to further specialize in one of eight sub-specialties. Further specialization is uncommon in lesser hospitals and practices, usually being found primarily in larger urban areas. Urology Demographics The NKF (National Kidney Foundation) states that urologic disorders and conditions afflict 5% or more of the United States population, resulting in more than 260,000 deaths. Ethnic populations are at a more elevated risk. The chief contributing factor is age. The pharmaceutical industry is making a profit off of these concerns, with profits in 2008 reaching 1.6 billion dollars, and at this speed, by 2015 they will reach almost 3 billion. Weak Economy and Aging Population The degenerating economy has had its effects on the field of Urology, and it is not expected to get better any time soon. Fewer jobs and accessibility to healthcare is an increasing problem. Many physicians are no longer accepting new patients on Medicare and Medicaid because of the lesser profit margins. With fewer physicians accepting Medicare and Medicaid patients, Urology clinics are anticipated to become overburdened. Many specialties are expecting this same forecast, such as Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care, Family Practice, and Internal Medicine. The baby boomers are also going to put a momentous strain on this field. With the dramatically increasing proportion of older patients, we are experiencing an influx of one age group, 65 and older, like we have never seen. Since a large part, if not the majority, of Urologic disorders, diseases, and conditions affect patients 45 and older, we are going to see the need for Urologists increase as well. The cost of services from these physicians is very likely to ascend also. With the economic principles of supply and demand at work, a smaller amount of providers matched with a huge demand will result in higher cost. Value of these services is irrelevant, being as value and cost function independently. With a value, what it is worth to a consumer, lower than the cost, what a consumer must pay or sacrifice for it, more people will be ignoring urological disorders much longer than they should be. This will most likely result in lasting damage, increased and more expensive treatments, and/or emergency room visits. Emergency clinics are highly overburdened as it is, especially with the baby boomer generation at its culmination. Health Insurance Reform However, even with the health proposals at last signed into law, its effect on our health care is not yet identified. By 2014 there will be a tremendous growth in the enrollment into health care insurance programs. This boost, when combined with the long term aging of the residents, should push the requirement for services and therefore price higher. However, no one yet knows what will happen to reimbursement rates from Medicare and this new program. The issue is this; will there be rate a cut of reimbursement rates for different specialties by Medicare? And will this new program conversely become a decreasing factor of the income of all specialties including Urology, its related specialties, and subspecialties? Only time will tell.
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Urology, the surgeon discipline of the urinary passages and the reproductive system of men, is a steadily increasing specialization for Urologists in the United States.
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