US medical care system 'not ready for elderly'

Millions of US baby boomers are about to enter a health care system for seniors that not only is not ready for them but also may even discourage them from getting quality care.

"We face an impending crisis as the growing number of older patients, who are living longer with more complex health needs, increasingly outpaces the number of health care providers with the knowledge and skills to care for them capably," said John W. Rowe, professor of health policy and management at Columbia University.

Rowe headed an Institute of Medicine committee that released a report yesterday on the health care outlook for the 78 million baby boomers about to begin turning 65.