I would like to introduce myself as the new Managing Editor. As a regular contributor to Geriatrics & Aging, I have come to know the publication and have developed over the last two years a close relationship with many of the individuals involved with organizing and editing the publication. I bring to this exciting task a masters degree in pharmacology, with a special interest in the elderly and a keen interest in medical journalism and communications.
I am joining the publication at a particularly propitious and interesting time. The year 2001, will mark the year when the first baby boomer turns 55. A demographic watershed, this coming year signals the start of the movement of one of wealthiest, best educated and most dynamic generations towards retirement age. A strident and demanding generation, the baby boomers have been at the forefront of societal changes for the last forty years. Proven innovators in almost every area of endeavor, this generation is surely set to drive changes in how we understand and see aging. The aging of this generation, coincides at the same time with extroardinary insights into the aging process and with sweeping innovations in drug design and development.
The demographic facts are striking: In 1900 only 4% of the population was over the age of 65; today that number is 12.4%. It will rise to a projected 25% by the year 2021. People over 65 now account for one third of all health care spending, more than 40% of all doctor visits, and one-third of all presciption drug sales. At the same time, those over 65 see their physicians on average 11 times per year compared to the five times per year that younger patients visit their doctor. It should also be noted that the visits of seniors take up as much as 56% more time than other patients' visits. The rapid aging of the population will only exacerbate these trends. Translated into daily clinical significance, these numbers mean ever more complicated demands on your practice.
Geriatrics & Aging has been solely designed to assist you with your patient-care decisions and to bring you timely and well-researched information. My aim as the managing editor of Geriatrics & Aging is to deliver a well-organized, coherent and balanced package of information to your desk every month.
Thousands of hours of research, organization, editing, medical illustration and other types of professional expertise are invested in each and every issue of Geriatrics & Aging. This effort and work is condensed, for your benefit into 60 meticulously constructed pages. A sophisticated medical communications product, Geriatrics & Aging is designed to augment and support your practice--it is a time-saving device.
I look forward to establishing a long-term relationship and rapport with each and everyone of my readers. I would encourage you to e-mail me directly any suggestions or thoughts at geriatrics@ribosome.com.
