 |
|
|
Directory
of 1,000 Healthcare Recruiters Calendar of Health Observance Dates Recommended
Reading Lists & Healthcare Bookstore Glossary of Managed Care Terms Health Care Companies & Hospitals Tools for Physician Executives Tools for Traveling Executives
To search this site, click
here.
|
You are here > Home > Reading Lists > Finance & Accounting > Economic Evolution of American Health Care The Economic Evolution of American Health Care:
From Marcus Welby to Managed Care Softcover: 224 pages The American health care industry has undergone such dizzying transformations since the 1960s that many patients have lost confidence in a system they find too impersonal and ineffectual. Is their distrust justified and can confidence be restored? David Dranove, a leading health care economist, tackles these and other key questions in the first major economic and historical investigation of the field. Focusing on the
doctor-patient relationship, the author begins with the era of the
independently practicing physician--epitomized by Marcus Welby, the
beloved father figure/doctor in the 1960s television show of the
same name--who disappeared with the growth of managed care. Dranove
guides consumers in understanding the rapid developments of the
health care industry and offers timely policy recommendations for
reforming managed care as well as advice for patients making health
care decisions.
The book covers everything from start-up troubles with the first
managed care organizations to attempts at government regulation to
the mergers and quality control issues facing MCOs today. It also
reflects on how difficult it is for patients to shop for medical
care. Up until the 1970s, patients looked to autonomous physicians
for recommendations on procedures and hospitals--a process that
relied more on the patient's trust of the physician than on facts,
and resulted in skyrocketing medical costs. Newly emerging MCOs have
tried to solve the shopping problem by tracking the performance of
care providers while obtaining discounts for their clients.
Many observers accuse MCOs of caring more about cost than
quality, and argue for government regulation. Dranove, however,
believes that market forces can eventually achieve quality care and
cost control. But first, MCOs must improve their ways of measuring
provider performance, medical records must be made more complete and
accessible (a task that need not compromise patient
confidentiality), and patients must be willing to seek and act on
information about the best care available. Dranove argues that
patients can regain confidence in the medical system, and even come
to trust MCOs, but they will need to rely on both their individual
doctors and their own consumer awareness. (information provided by the publisher) You may also be interested in / The Directory of Healthcare Recruiters / Jump to a List / Health Administration & Leadership / Physician Executive, Medical Staff & Practice Management / Finance, Accounting, Economics, Billing & Reimbursement / Coding for Hospital, Physician & Clinical Services / Law, Malpractice, Ethics, Accreditation & Compliance / Quality Improvement, Outcomes & Customer Service / Risk Management, Security, Error Reduction & Patient Safety / Information Systems, Technology & Medical Records / Clinical Management & Executive Nursing / Behavioral Health, Social Work & Psychiatry Management / Human Resources, Management & Supervision / Directories, Data, Trends & Benchmarks / Software & CD-ROMs / Gift Ideas & Recommended Gifts / Journals, Magazines & Newsletters / Search for Books / Books Index / Go to / Home Page / Toolbox for Health Administrators / Bookstore |
