Over the next decade (2026 to 2036), demand for adult outpatient care is projected to grow by 20% – and pediatric outpatient volume is expected to grow by 6%. That’s the forecast of the analysts in 2026 Impact Of Change® – an estimate based on population metrics and disease-based, diagnosis-related group data.

But within those global statistics is another story. Demand for adult behavioral health visits is projected to grow by 22% – and pediatric behavioral health demand by 17%. And 20% of those encounters are projected to be virtual visits.

The authors attribute the growth in demand to a number of factors. Demographics play a part – with strong growth in the 65+ population and increasing rates…