title: A point of view: why point-of-care places are not free marketplaces.
abstract: Current wisdom holds that health care is a business and "as such must abide by market principles." Most nurses are not well enough versed in economic theories to credibly critique health care delivery decisions based on economic theories. The relationship of market principles to health care realities is described in basic terms to encourage nurses to "optimize patient care and influence health care policy." Physicians, who control all access points to the health care system, have enjoyed a 40-year market dominance that is "rapidly being replaced by insurance companies and for-profit investors." Providers' decisions to treat or not to treat are strongly influenced by whether the patient is in a fee-for-service or capitated payment environment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rambur
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005610:Freedom; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000639:trends*; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011056:Political Systems; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States