title: A vision of quality in health care delivery.
abstract: Empirical evidence is thin, so one must reply on informed judgment, common sense, and theory when describing a high-quality health plan. Using this approach, a high-quality health plan would be characterized by excellence in the following areas: physician selection and development; health improvement; information systems; continuous quality improvement; cooperation with health care purchasers; alignment of financial incentives and appropriate capitation; and patient involvement. High-quality health plans would be nurtured by a national context in which medical education recognizes managed care and quality measurement, risk-adjusted premiums are the norm, competition is managed, and government has a limited role.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Enthoven
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Vorhaus
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D006265:Health Care Coalitions; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States