title: Protecting patients as costs are cut.
abstract: In today's managed healthcare era, cost-control measures that encourage underutilization of resources create fears that patients will receive less care than their conditions, injuries, or illnesses warrant. Patients need protection now that the rules have changed. Traditionally, patients have relied on direct caregivers to put their patients first. As individuals, caregivers want to be patient advocates; however, changes in the healthcare environment make it difficult for them to maintain their advocacy role. Clinical decision support criteria that are contained in a resource management program can help providers and payers maintain a balance between cost containment and healthcare quality.
authors.affiliation: Inter Qual, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corcoran
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review