title: The surgeon's role in improving medical care.
abstract: Surgeons have a history of almost 100 years of being in the forefront of efforts to standardize medical care and improve patients' health outcomes. Recently, increases in the "for-profit" sector have made it more difficult for patients to receive quality medical care. In this new era, surgeons need to stay involved in all areas of the establishment of patient care standards, to ensure patients continue to have access to surgical treatments.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: O'Leary
mesh_terms: D013502:General Surgery; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006302:Health Services Research; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010819:Physician's Role; D011787:Quality of Health Care