The Evolution of Health Care in America
The evolution of health care in America had its beginnings even before the founding of the nation. This article divides the evolution of American health care into six historical periods:…
The Sad and Bleak Future for Urology Funding at the National Institutes of Health
The bulk of federal funding for medical research is delivered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Because federal funding is coordinated through the annual discretionary budget review process, the…
Supergroups and Economies of Scale
With the changing environment for medical practice, physician practice models will continue to evolve. These “supergoups” create economies of scale, but their advantage is not only in the traditional economic…
Certification, Recertification, and Maintenance: Continuing to Learn
The process of certification, recertification, and maintenance of certification is mandated by the American Board of Urology as a member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. The history…
The American Medical Association Stake in the Future of US Health Care: The American Medical Association Plan for Reform of the US Health Care System
This article discusses the need for health care reform. The American Medical Association has devised a plan that would allow all Americans to obtain health care coverage. This article discusses…
Residency Training: Where Do We Go from Here
Residency training in urologic surgery should change to an educational experience driven by outcomes instead of process. The needs analysis for curriculum modification has been completed and defines the competencies…
US Health Care: Single-Payer or Market Reform
The authors advocate a fundamental change in health care financing—national health insurance (NHI). NHI would reorient the way we pay for care, bringing the hundreds of billions now squandered on…
Performance Measurement, Public Reporting, and Pay-for-Performance
The use of incentives to improve quality of care is spreading rapidly across the health care system. Public reporting (PR) and pay-for-performance (PFP) are two examples of incentive-based programs. Although…
Fixing Health Care Before It Fixes Us
The current American health care system is beyond repair. The problems of the health care system are delineated in this discussion. The current health care system needs to be replaced…
American Health Care at the Crossroads
The United States is in desperate need of health care reform. What has been brought to the table so far, however, has been insufficient. This article outlines a comprehensive change…
