"Health services typically are viewed as necessities, which consumers are very reluctant to forgo or even postpone, even during hard times," according to the University of Georgia's Georgia Economic Outlook 2002.

"Demand for inpatient hospital care is not expected to increase in 2002, but outpatient departments should grow rapidly," according to the report.

"Demand for dental services will continue to grow, as standards of acceptable dental care and beauty continue to rise," according to the report. "Higher incomes and more dental plans will allow consumers to invest more in preventive and cosmetic procedures. Dentists still will face cyclical demand, however, because many procedures are easily postponed and are not covered by insurance."