The Dartmouth data: moving from analysis to action.
The work of Jack Wennberg and colleagues on variations in medical practice and outcomes has clarified our understanding of the relationships between supply, costs, and quality of medical care. Variations persist, however, in spite of our knowledge of them. Progress in reducing these variations will require technical, political, and regulatory solutions to problems surrounding financial incentives and health care delivery. Wennberg's paper uses Medicare claims data to focus on specific providers rather than geographic regions. However, "real-time" availability of such data is necessary to maximize their usefulness, and collective action will be required to overcome obstacles to that goal.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. JKNICKM@rwjf.org
James R
JR
Knickman
D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006278:Medicare; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States