title: Effective planning for managed care.
abstract: In response to the changing healthcare market, many providers are forming networks for managed care contracting. These networks may fail, however, if planning focuses on maintaining business practices of the past rather than responding to market forces of the future. Effective planning for managed care requires that network executives establish a vision of the future that is not shackled by experiences of the past, articulate a mission that outlines what the network's role will be in the future, and create strategies that will help the network fulfill its mission. Although financial data are necessary to measure a network's progress toward fulfilling its mission, data on past performance should not be used to shape a vision of the future.
authors.affiliation: Quality Management Consulting Group, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Koeppen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mess
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Trott
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks / Q000191:economics*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000592:standards*; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010934:Planning Techniques; D014481:United States