Health care involves the maintenance of human health through a process of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments. It includes a wide range of medical and health services, such as hospital care, primary care, community health services, rehabilitation, and so forth. The practice of health care also encompasses research and development to improve concepts, theories and operational methods for the provision of healthcare.
The United States spends significantly more on its health care system than do most peer nations. This is due to a combination of factors, including but not limited to an aging population, advances in medicine and technology, higher prices for drugs and devices, and the fact that most Americans have health insurance which allows them to use a much broader spectrum of services than would otherwise be available.
In addition to these direct costs, our health care system is also plagued by indirect costs. These include the social costs of a health care system that is not accessible to all Americans, and the hidden costs associated with a health care system that has become an industry for profit. This industry has grown to include a vast array of intermediaries, many of which make their profits by overcharging for care and denying patients access to essential services.
A fundamental concern in all of these issues is the quality of health care. This concern has resulted in a series of external controls that run from licensing and certification of professionals (which is intended to assure at least a minimal level of quality) to restricting expansion of the health care industry through health planning and certificate of need procedures, imposing explicit cost and utilization control measures, and requiring quality assurance efforts in publicly financed programs.
The quality of health care is inherently complex and difficult to measure. In general, the quality of health care is a function of how well it serves the patient and how efficiently resources are used. A health care provider can only provide the highest possible quality of service when they know as much as possible about their patient. This requires the existence of an effective information flow and a willingness by the patient to engage in the decision-making process.
While many people prefer to stick with a single physician, that is not always possible, especially for those with complex or chronic health conditions. In order to optimize their care, patients should keep records of all the providers that they see and be prepared to explain their needs and preferences. The ability to choose and switch providers will increase as the industry moves toward a value-based model of health care. This model will encourage a more patient-centered approach to health care and reward providers who produce a positive outcome per dollar spent. This will help to reduce the waste of health care resources, while ensuring that the right level of care is delivered. It will also encourage a greater emphasis on preventative health care and an effort to eliminate unnecessary procedures.