Facts about Incontinence
Sufferers.
Research shows that more than 13 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence alone, 85% of them women. Some physicians feel that the statistics are even higher and speculate that incontinence affects over 25 million people when you consider those with temporary or short episodes as well as those with fecal incontinence.
Under reported, untreated.
According to the National Association For Continence, only 1 out of 12 people seek help for incontinence and even then it might take up to an average of 7 years before a patient admits the problem to their health care provider. Incontinence and other related bowel and bladder disorders are highly untreated, mostly because of embarrassment but also because many people think incontinence is a normal part of aging. In fact, according to the Agency For Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), "even though urinary incontinence can be improved in 8 out of 10 cases, fewer than half of those with bladder problems ever discuss the condition with their health care professional. The condition often goes untreated."
Untapped revenue potential.
The AHCPR reports that $16.4 billion is spent every year on incontinence-related care for individuals who are treated for their condition. Behavioral intervention treatments for incontinence are vastly underutilized, although AHCPR recommends behavioral techniques as the first choice of treatment, before pharmacologic and surgical treatments, for many forms of UI.
How Will Your Practice Respond?