ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book identifies issues surrounding access, cost, and quality, and explores potential options for addressing these issues within an economic framework. It focuses on issues of the uninsured, who they were, and why those with access to insurance don't always take up the insurance offer. The book explores solution options such as employer mandates, expanded public programs, and offering tax credits to purchase health insurance. It looks at issues related to cost of healthcare and concluded that the main driver of escalating healthcare costs is technology. The book explores data that suggest that other countries achieve better health outcomes for less money, looks at the impact medical errors have on quality of care, and discovers regional variations in quality and utilization. It reviews solutions to the quality issues, which included Total Quality Management (TQM), clinical pathways, and clinical guidelines.
