Investing In Healthcare

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The baby boom cohort has changed the world in which we live and the lens through which we view it. The aging of this cohort (roughly one third of the population) will continue to usher in dramatic changes across most business sectors and areas of our lives in the years to come. The boomer demographic in North America is also presenting unique challenges for government run social programs and presenting unprecedented opportunities for businesses with the right entrepreneurial mindsets and resources. While boomer consumptive patterns have evolved over time, there are still strong correlates between their wants/needs (and the wants/needs of their children) and the flow of capital across virtually all economic sectors. Clearly, as boomers are aging, their spending habits are evolving as well. This re-prioritization of spending has become an area of study for governments and investment organizations alike. One area that surfaces repeatedly and is becoming pre-eminent in the study of boomer consumption patterns is healthcare.Healthcare is one of the industries that are most acutely impacted by this demographic shift. While many boomers will continue working, many are also retiring or are getting close to retirement. Most boomers are or still view themselves as reasonably young (mentally and physically) – the oldest, born in 1946 one year after the “boys came home” from WWII. For those of you without a calculator handy, the oldest boomers will be 62 years of age in 2008. This small but important factoid is lost on many bullish investors who see the present time as the “halcyon days” in healthcare investment in seniors housing options or Long-term care. Yet it will be 15 to 20 years before the leading edge of the boomers reach the age where these services will be in higher demand.What many people, including even professional investors, forget or never learned is that much of the the current demand for healthcare is being driven by WWI babies, or what has been coined The Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation is compromised of those who reached adulthood just before, and served in WWII. Many came from rural areas of Canada and the U.S. and settled in the larger centers after the War. This generation was entirely different than succeeding generations. While the differences are beyond the scope of this article, suffice to say that those who seriously study demographic shifts expect the baby boom generation to have an entirely different set of expectations regarding healthcare service and other services than their parents.So, to recap thus far, there are a significant number of opportunities in the United States and Canada in healthcare investment; but these opportunities are not limitless and nor are they a sure bet. Demographic shifts are significant drivers of healthcare consumption patterns. It is important to attribute healthcare supply and demand drivers to the market and demographic to which they rightfully belong.So, while healthcare investment opportunities abound, there is no replacement for sound judgment based on analytical inquiry. This is true of any investment decision. It is also key that current and projected changes across the following domains are reviewed in detail: demographics, finances, macro-economics, geography, consumer attitudes and behaviours, motivating factors (e.g., luxury, fear), urban/rural, SES, educational, cultural, risk orientation, and other personal and group-related factors. While this article zeros in on the effect that the baby boom will have on the healthcare investment market, there are a multiplicity of other factors and population segments that are, and will continue to exert significant pressure on healthcare economics and consumption patterns.The following businesses related to healthcare delivery are and will continue to be worthy of consideration by individuals, private equity, and venture capital investors. Again, it should be noted that the list is only a starting point, and that investment decisions should be made on the best current and projective information possible. It will be necessary to use an array of analytical tools and methods (e.g., Porter’s Five Forces and other financial and statistical methods and models) to assess the industry/sector/business opportunity prior to making a significant investment into healthcare. Having said this, potential healthcare investment opportunities exist in the following areas:
Integrated Healthcare Centers, i.e., primary care (particularly where physician services, diagnostics (X-ray, CT, MRI), laboratory, and pharmacy are delivered within a short radius)

Providers of products & services for diabetes management, congestive heart failure, COPD, coronary artery disease, and other high incidence chronic diseases

Providers of mobility and other daily living assistive devices for those with a range of impaired gross or fine motor skills or other mobility limitations (e.g., caused by pain, arthritis, joint immobility)

Pharmaceutical and biotechology innovators and providers (care must be exercised due to patent limitations, proliferation of substitutes – generic drugs, lengthy approval processes, and other process and outcome risks such as the Vioxx controversy )

Health and hospitality services outsourcing (again, highly contextual and requires significant demand/supply driver analysis, political, environmental, union/non-union and other forces analysis)

In-home healthcare services (e.g., nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, care and support)

Medical or surgical retreats (highly specialized, significant risk)

Assisted Living or Long-term Care (these resources are capital intensive and targeted at the parents of the boomers, i.e., the WWI babies) – it will be 20 years before boomers will require these services in any great volume (be careful)

Major equipment and major/minor supplies providers (e.g., MRI, CT, ultrasound through to re-useable and disposable equipment)

Providers of re-furbished medical equipment to secondary markets, which include more price-sensitive purchasers (e.g. re-furbished CT scanner for a smaller rural hospital)

Alternative medicine centers (e.g., offering Ayurvedic Medicine, acupuncture, traditional Chinese Medicine)
Since information technology is a core function in healthcare, the following is a stand alone list of technology-related opportunities related to data/information collection and transfer:
Devices: quick, simple to use, portable, and ease workflow in high stress healthcare environments (e.g., emergency departments, tele-health)

Devices whose operating systems converge with mainframe of networked systems that admit, track, audit, and generate reports with minimum input and robust rule-based error checking

Devices or system that integrates disparate healthcare network data and traffic

Devices or systems which accurately expedite services

Devices or systems which improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis

Devices or systems which improve reduce human error and increase the probability of appropriate and targeted treatment options

Translational devices and applications of all sorts, i.e. translating actual “hands-on” data into useable, and interoperable information which can be used for diagnostic, treatment, recovery, and planning purposes

Electronic dashboard technology for strategic decision-makers

Providers of software applications that integrate disparate healthcare value chain and supply chain fragmentation

Providers of software applications that integrate in-hospital processes (e.g., admission, discharge, transfer); care-finance-payments; care-supplies-payments and other A/P and A/R alignment platforms and applications

Providers of software applications which refine, simplify, or facilitate the care planning of patients

Providers of systems integration

Providers of software applications for Human Resources, CRM, Finance, and other corporate functions
These are a few opportunities which currently exist in the healthcare context. As you might guess, many areas are being explored by larger firms. Healthcare IT is particularly attractive to larger, more highly capitalized companies and software developers. The competition amongst these groups is fierce due to the large volumes of funds in healthcare and the market opportunities driven by demographics and the need to constantly improve system performance. To date, there is no one firm with a strategic competitive advantage in any one area, though some healthcare sectors (e.g., diagnostics) have a high concentration of highly capitalized firms (e.g., GE and Siemens competing in the CT, MRI market).Whatever investment decisions you decide, the amount of money you risk should be in proportion to your risk tolerance. Even “slam dunk” opportunities can turn out to be dogs if the circumstances are not right; or a context specific barrier is not weighed; or social attitudes do an about face. If you are scanning the healthcare markets for opportunities to invest, be sure to do your due diligence and get help to investigate this complex and ever-expanding area. The due diligence you do prior to investing significant capital is essential to ensuring high double digit returns whilst minimizing your risk.

Fitness Exercise Provides Health Benefits Which Help With Weight Loss And Build Muscle Strength

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Fitness training helps Improve health and well being. Most people live very busy lives while working at jobs or doing chores at home. In hectic living situations it is easy to put off or to undertake any form of physical fitness exercises and fit these into a busy schedule. However, fitness should be an activity of importance, and enough time should be set aside, on a regular basis, for fitness training weight loss and better health.However, with various sources of information, about the benefits of health, fitness, exercise and a well balanced diet, readily found in health and fitness magazines, there is a growing realization, as to the benefits of weight loss, fitness training and for regular exercise regiment.People in every continent and every city, have begun to take health and fitness seriously. This growth in fitness and exercise, has given rise in equal measure to fitness gyms, fitness classes and fitness clubs, opening fitness centers, to cater and meet this demand for physical well being.Fitness and strenuous exercise, is best done under supervision, of a trained fitness instructor. It is equally important, to consult ones personal physician, to ensure that the persons body can handle, any type of fitness training and workout. Injury and health risks during fitness training can occur and hence exercise should be done under expert supervision, at least in early stages of training.Fitness can be undertaken by men and women, as well as by different age groups, but each individual needs to take into consideration, personal limitations and avoid potential risks of injury.It is also important to maintain proper diets and water or liquid intake, as well as to consider nutritional supplements, that the body may require after workouts. These food requirements, are personal in nature and consulting a qualified dietitian and fitness trainer, will go a long way, in building muscle strength and feeling great. Seeking guidance from qualified professionals, in the use of exercise equipment and food intake, are paramount to enjoying good health.Fitness and exercise can be done at home or at a gym, but working out with other people, that have the same health objectives, can serve as an amazing incentive, to continue with a regular fitness schedule, and is a motivating factor to ones progress. Working out in a group environment, has the added benefit, of observing progress made by others and builds confidence, that similar results can be obtained, for oneself, if fitness training becomes an ongoing workout.There is plenty of fitness information, readily available on the internet. A search for nutritional supplements, exercise equipment, or workout videos, will provide additional help, and an understanding of the ingredients required, for enjoyment of better health.There are many fitness companies, that provide incentives for enrollment into fitness gyms. They often advertise, fitness discounts and provide coupon savings. This is a great way to benefit from training, while saving money at the same time.These fitness coupon deals, are usually found in local newspapers, or by visiting the company website, for prevailing offers and printable coupons. Fitness is about enjoying better health.

So Many Ways Of Making Money Online

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I find it absolutely amazing how the internet has just permeated into every aspect of our lives. Money used to be represented by gold, copper or other metals. The value of money used to be backed by the amount of gold the issuer had. Then when money was taken off the gold standard, it became represented by paper. The piece of paper in itself had no real value. It was who was printing that piece of paper that mattered. Money became an IOU of sorts. Today, with the internet, money is not even that piece of paper anymore. It is represented just by numbers. Money can be created out of nowhere, and can disappear as quickly. Making money has never been easier. Today, even virtual products can be bought and sold, for real money. All thanks to the internet.So what are the ways of making money online ? My list is far from exhaustive, I’m sure.Online marketing has been used in the real world, where real products are bought and sold. Supermarket chains now allow their customers to order their products online. Shopping used to take 2 hours, including travelling time. Not to mention, one had to match one’s timing to when the shops were open. Today, you can do your groceries at 1 am, and get them delivered the next day. Just log onto the website, click a few items and pay with your credit card. Done. You don’t even need to buy your things from shops in your neighbourhood. The shops don’t even need to be in your country. In some cases, the shops don’t even exist in the real world, just online. You can get books and many other products from Amazon.com. eBay is virtually synonymous with online buying and selling. You never have to touch a paper dollar. Paypal transfers some numbers from your account to the merchant’s account at a click of a button. Selling products online has opened a whole new world of customers. Now you can sell your products to people worldwide. All they need is an internet connection. Then the postal service collects the goods, and ships them over to you. And I thought with the advent of faxes and emails, the postal services will go out of business. Now they are busier than ever.So what else can one buy with online marketing ? Digital products are becoming increasingly popular. E-books, computer programmes etc can all be sent through the internet. No need to wait for the postal service to deliver the product to you. Just click on the button, pay with paypal or your credit card, a few numbers disappear again, and the product is yours ! Huge business. If the Google advertisements are to be believed, many people are getting rich just selling digital products online. The production costs are minimal. Outlay doesn’t cost much. It is hardly surprising these products are able to pay out as high as 50-70% in commissions.Google and Yahoo! function almost entirely in the internet world. Look how rich their creators have become, and their wealth is still increasing.Then you can make money online with advertisements. Google AdSense is probably one of the best known ones. People pay Google for its pay-per-click ads, called adwords. Others allow Google to put a few little advertisements on their websites. Hardly complicated. In fact, for the Google people, it’s almost nothing, as the advertisements are written by the advertisers themselves. The computer helps them find places for the advertisements to appear. People who want the advertisements simply apply to have them appear on their websites. Someone else clicks on the advertisement, the advertiser gets charged, and the “advertisee” gets paid. Hopefully a sale also results. And Google makes a fortune. They must be hundreds of digital products and blogs / websites all tailored towards making money using AdWords or adsense. These products in themselves generate millions of dollars.There are also many websites set up specifically for people to get their websites noticed by those searching for similar products. Some are free. Others charge a fee. You can always get a website set up by someone who is technologically savvy, or use one of the many services available.Then there’s affiliate marketing. Wonderful way of making money online. For this, you don’t even need to have products. You just borrow other people’s products, market it for them, and get paid commissions if the products are sold. Add this on to websites that get created for you, and you barely need to do much work yourself. I’ve found that you can even pay people to write articles for you to promote the products ! Some places that offer affiliate marketing I’ve found are clickbank, amazon and the rich dad company.If all this sounds too complicated, there are the old easy ways of making money online. Enterprising people have put together lists of companies who are happy to pay people to answer surveys online. For a small fee, these companies are able to get surveys to find answers to how their customers feel, what they want and what products they like. They don’t have to hire people to do it for them anymore. At a click of a button, they can send the surveys out to many who have registered with them to answer surveys. In the past, someone would have to call each person up and speak to them. As for those answering the surveys, it is really easy money. For a few minutes of their time, at their own leisure, they just click a few answers and the money comes in ! Wonderful concept.Just a side comment. Trading in stocks and their derivatives have been around for a long time. All this has become so much easier with the internet. Traders no longer need to call up their brokers frantically trying to buy or sell their stocks. That’s another way to make money online.And finally, this one took me by surprise when I first read of it in the newspapers. People are now selling virtual products online. There are many online games, some where players from all over the world meet in the virtual world. Some games involve creating characters with particular powers, or with particular weapons that can be used against other players. The article mentioned that some people were actually paying others real money for virtual weapons !There are so many ways of making money online. Money is being created everyday this way. And all it takes is a lot of imagination , eyes to see where the money is and a little technical know-how.