Physiatry practice now and in 2032: how to thrive in the post-health care reform world

Health care reform is upon us, including changes in models of care delivery and physician and institution compensation. The resulting tsunami of uncertainty offers physiatrists the opportunity to relocate to higher ground and help the specialty thrive as well as to identify the possible quagmires into which practices could sink. For this reason, it is prudent for physiatrists to more carefully consider how their professional lives may be altered in the aftermath of reform. We believe that understanding and preparation will facilitate opportunities and mitigate challenges. In this essay, we will discuss various alternative scenarios that represent population health and health care delivery in the year 2032, the real-world opportunities and challenges for the physiatrist in the present and in the next 2 decades, along with ideas as to how physiatry can thrive in the post-health care reform world.