Final answer:
Practice Fusion's feature to sort by provider reflects the ongoing efforts in the healthcare sector to increase efficiency and standardize operations, particularly in response to a rise in demand linked to an aging population. This trend began in the 1990s and has continued to evolve with the use of technology and the introduction of new healthcare roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability to sort patients by provider using Practice Fusion is an example of how healthcare providers have sought to increase efficiency and manage the growing demand for healthcare services. During the 1990s, amid an uptick in demand caused by an aging and increasingly unhealthy population, many healthcare providers underwent mergers and consolidations, leading to what was termed as hospital "merger mania." This trend not only continued but also expanded into other forms of providers such as urgent care facilities.
Furthermore, the healthcare industry has adopted other standardization methods to enhance efficiency. These include the integration of telemedicine, the creation of new roles for healthcare professionals, stricter insurance mandates, and the utilization of artificial intelligence. These innovations aim to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and improve patient care in an environment that is seeing a continuous rise in demand.