title: The learning curve and the health care industry.
abstract: This article will examine the learning curve and its potential impact on the health care industry. Although the learning curve has traditionally been applied to the manufacturing industry, a labor-intensive industry like health care is a prime candidate for the benefits of the learning curve. Specifically, we will look at past research on the learning curve and discuss what effects learning might have on health care costs and outcomes in the current health care environment.
authors.affiliation: William M. Mercer, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahrens
mesh_terms: D000066:Accounting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D014481:United States