Managed care and the morality of the marketplace
Article Abstract:
The delivery of health care should not be completely driven by market forces. Market forces have benefitted medical care in some ways, such as by reducing the length of hospital visits and promoting preventative care. However, market-driven health care reduces the number of people with health insurance, and threatens physicians' professionalism, patients' trust, and medical research. Physicians working for managed care plans are faced with a conflict between providing the best treatment and reducing expenses. This conflict of interest may jeopardize patient trust. Physicians' strategies for dealing with market-driven care include hiring lawyers, using bookkeeping systems, and participating in decisions made by health plan administrators. Perhaps the movement toward market-driven health care indicates a general trend in our culture in favor of competition. While our leaders should continue to reduce unnecessary medical expenses, they should dispose of market-driven care and work to provide care for everybody.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1995
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Hospitals, heal yourselves
Article Abstract:
Both teaching and non-teaching hospitals have much to learn from each other. Teaching hospitals not only treat patients but also train medical students and residents. The America's Best Hospitals survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks teaching hospitals at the top of the list. This list is based on availability of high-tech equipment, low mortality rates and greater physician expertise. However, a survey of patients finds non-teaching hospitals at the top of their list. These hospitals can provide continuity of care, emotional and social support and other services that may be lacking at teaching hospitals.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1999
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Is managed care here to stay?
Article Abstract:
It may be hard to predict the future of the US health care system. Since 1959, an economist has made startling predictions about US health care, many of which have come true. In 1997, he predicted that managed care will not last long in its current form. However, many changes have taken place in the US health care system that no one would have predicted. They include the growth of for-profit hospital chains via mergers and acquisitions, the conversion of non-profit hospitals to for-profit status, the decline in solo practice and the changes occurring in medical schools.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1997
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