Expanding the cardiovascular mandate: from treatment to the protection of health.

摘要

Traditionally, cardiovascular specialists have focused primarily on patient care. Today, however, multiple novel socioeconomic influences and the development of new technologies are forcing this focus to change. The scope of physicians' interventions must be expanded to include not only patient treatment, but also early identification of high-risk individuals and the protection of their health. An expanded mandate for medical professionals is urgently needed. Three primary socioeconomic reasons drive the need for change in most parts of the world: changing demographics and the aging of the population; the economic ramifications of inaction versus preventing and treating disease; and the change in patient attitude, from passive recipient of care to active consumer of health information and services.