Health Networks: Can They Be the Solution?—Published Jointly with the U of Michigan Press
Author: Thomas P. Weil, PhD
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This book is a philosophical and practical analysis of the formation and operation of integrated delivery systems. The author identifies and elucidates six major themes. Health networks are a more sophisticated attempt to restructuring the health care system along traditional business lines. Horizontal and vertical merging will continue, but a slower pace. Despite medical manpower surpluses, networks are encountering difficulty in attracting primary care physicians to poor rural and inner-city communities. Americans continue to prefer a pluralistic, quasi-public, quasi-private health system. Because of cost containment pressures, networks are encountering difficulty in recruiting qualified leaders. Networks could play a larger role in enhancing access, social equity, and quality and in reducing costs if they showed more interest in communities’ overall well-being and in balancing the need for services with the availability of private and public funds.