These developments require continuing reassessment of the tradeoffs between privacy concerns and other values, such as convenient and quick access to information, and of the practical realities of enforcing an agreed-on balance of competing objectives.
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For more information on the knowledge base and health care quality:
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Conclusion
Who needs to be well informed and concerned about quality of care?
Everyone needs to be well informed and concerned about the quality of care. Everyone means patients and their families, consumer agents and advocates, health professionals, administrators of health plans and facilities, purchasers of health care services, and policymakers at all levels. The messages to these audiences are 1) that the quality of care can be measured and improved and 2) that quality of care should not be ignored in pursuit of cost control. Reinforcing these messages means making sure that quality of care stays on the health care-delivery agenda, with clear identification of the risks and opportunities that are posed by the changes in health care in the United States. It also means describing how health plans, health care organizations, and clinicians should be accountable to patients and society and, conversely, how individuals can take appropriate responsibility for their own health.
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For Further Information: The World Wide Web site http://www2.nas.edu/21st includes up-to-date versions of all the documents in this series and on-line versions of the reports referred to in this document. Internet Address: jjensen@nas.edu Phone: (202) 334–1601 Fax: (202) 334–2419 Address: National Research Council Office of Congressional and Government Affairs 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20418 |
© 1997 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced solely for individual, non-commercial, and educational purposes without the written permission of the National Academy of Sciences.
RECENT HEALTH POLICY REPORTS
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The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Under the authority of the charter granted to it by Congress in 1863, the Academy has a working mandate that calls on it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts is president of the NAS. The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) was established in 1964, under the charter of the NAS, as a parallel organization of distinguished engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of members, sharing with the NAS its responsibilities for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A.Wulf is interim president of the NAE. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) was established in 1970 by the NAS to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the NAS in its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I.Shine is president of the IOM. The National Research Council (NRC) was organized by the NAS in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the NAS and the NAE in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the IOM. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts is chairman and Dr. William A.Wulf is interim vice-chairman of the NRC. |
