Cooperation, cost control and consumer focus are critical challenges for health care.
As we move into the 21st Century, the U.S. health care system faces tremendous challenges such as care for an aging and increasingly diverse population, escalating costs and limited resources. Government, consumers, hospitals and the insurance industry are positioning themselves for the future. Physicians need to do the same. Physicians must come to the table and assert leadership by working collaboratively with major stakeholders. Examine some steps that need to be taken to help shape the future of medicine.
Wong
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University of Washington Women's Health Care Center, Seattle, USA. ewong@u.washington.edu
D000368:Aged; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000639:trends*; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D008486:Physician Executives; D010819:Physician's Role; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014481:United States