HSA 3111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Patient Participation, Managed Care, Aarp
Document Summary
The impressive accomplishments of the u. s. health care system are offset by persistent problems including: unacceptable increases in costs inexplicable variations in performance limited access for significant numbers of americans. Economic and social changes are altering the public"s view of providers, facilities, and services. Providers, insurers, and institutions are now commercial entrepreneurs. The commercialization of the health care industry has replaced the historic charitable and social orientation of its institutions and providers with attitudes that are aggressively entrepreneurial and fiercely competitive. The failure of effective governmental reforms prompted the private sector to move to promote market-oriented changes, competition, and managed care. The privileged relationship between patient and physician that once was sacred in health care is now subject to scrutiny by insurers, payers, managers, and quality assurers. Old system, practitioners fostered mystique to preserve their distinguished status from patients and encouraged blind faith in their judgments. The confidential provider/patient contract was not subject to outside review.