A cancer-care revolution that started in the 1980s is spreading to cardiac care. In the 1980s, cancer was treated almost exclusively in hospital settings. These days, more than 80% of all cancer care happens in community outpatient centers, which achieve better outcomes, keep costs low, and offer a more agreeable environment to both patients and caregivers.
Heart disease is poised for a similar revolution, with the potential to have an enormous positive effect on the U.S. healthcare system. Cardiovascular disease already accounts for 1 out of 7 healthcare dollars spent, and the total cost is expected to double and then some, to $1.1 trillion by 2035. Advances in cardiovascular medicine are creating a shift toward preventive care, shorter hospital stays, lower costs and better outcomes.
