Collin County Living Well Magazine September/October 2018 | Page 64

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In addition, many people still receive healthcare coverage
through their employers. The U.S. Census found that mil-
lennials outnumber baby boomers by approximately 7.7
million. This means that the workforce encompasses multi-
ple generations with different needs, some of whom work
remotely at least part of the time. This affects how benefits
are communicated to employees, as well as the breadth
of services expected and needed. Overall, healthcare is
becoming more and more personalized, requiring more
innovation to keep prices down while effectively serving
varying segments of the population.
Increasingly, people are taking their wellness into their own
hands. The proliferation of wearable step counters, heart-
rate monitors and the like is evidence of this. The popular-
ity of accessories that monitor your vital signs, biometric
data, and activity levels shows that people are concerned
about not just treating illnesses, but doing what they can to
avoid getting sick in the first place. Private companies and
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COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
healthcare providers can capitalize on trends to improve
treatment by making it more personalized, and in theo-
ry, more effective. Already, genetic counseling to detect
certain types of breast cancer is helping patients to make
life-changing decisions regarding their health. It is this type
of innovation and research that keeps the United States at
the forefront of advancements in wellness and healthcare
concerns.
Choosing the Right Care
In the event that you do get sick and need treatment, there
are an infinite number of specialists, primary care doctors,
emergency or urgent care options to consider. This can be
both a positive and a negative. How do you know where
to go or how to choose? Do you rely on the recommen-
dation of a friend or family? In the case of major illness
or injury, a bit of research can point you to a doctor or
physician that might be best for your circumstance. But
where do you start?