The rising costs of medical care in the U.S. are one of the biggest challenges to our country's long-term financial picture. For years, health care costs have been rising although with limited demonstrated benefits to the overall health of Americans. Virtually everyone agrees that the system is broken, but of course, there is tremendous disagreement about how to fix it. This longread looks at one initiative being conducted at Stanford to identify key areas where costs can be reduced without negatively affecting the quality of care. The most frustrating aspect of this story is how bottom lines become prioritized over the health of patients and the long-term health of the medical care system. Nevertheless, the concept behind this initiative is important and may likely help lead us toward positive solutions to the looming health care crisis.
"Against the Odds" by Kris Newby
Published in the Stanford Medicine Magazine, Fall 2012
http://stanmed.stanford.edu/2012fall/article3.html?src=longreads
Eric
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