Engaging the Consumer to Improve Healthcare Some of the most important steps to improving health care begin with the people who drive the entire system – the public.
The health care industry has long recognized that when individuals are more engaged in their own care, the result is better clinical outcomes and greater cost-efficiency. So today, each of us is being asked to take on increasing responsibility for our well-being. Health care providers are encouraging patients to play a more active role in preventing illness and managing chronic conditions. Health insurers are empowering members with products that give them a greater range of benefits, a wider choice of providers and more flexibility in determining their deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Indeed, Americans are no longer simply “members” of a health plan or “patients” of a provider; we are becoming “consumers” of health care – with all of the responsibilities the word implies. As consumers of other goods and services, we routinely attempt to make well-informed decisions to best meet our individual needs and desires. As consumers of health care, we also must learn to shop wisely. This requires a fundamental change in the way consumers interact with the health care system.
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