7 drivers shaping the future of health care

The entire U.S. health care sector stands to be transformed by a number of factors, including demographic shifts, disruptive technologies, a deeper understanding of genetics and more direct-to-patient care, according to A.T. Kearney's report, "Health@250 -- The Seven Drivers of Change Shaping the Future." A.T. Kearney experts detail industry implications of these trends and four possible scenarios of what could happen to the health care sector by 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the U.S. -- depending on the strength of the economy and the level of alignment between the various stakeholders. Click the slides below to take a more in-depth look at the drivers shaping the future of health care: "These developments are intersecting in extraordinary ways, with the promise to increase wellness, decrease disease, and set new standards for prevention and care," the experts write. "If America can capitalize on this opportunity and rise to meet persistent and emerging challenges, the potential exists to radically shift the trajectory of health costs, provision, access, and patient outcomes."