Over the weeks of this course we have covered a range of healthcare issues. Now, as we approach the last week of our course, please take a moment, step-back, and think about what we have learned.
It’s been quite a journey through a tremendous amount of material. I hope you have found it of interest and of value.
As you think about all this, your final challenge is to try and bring it all together in response to the following question:
How might the ways in which we produce, deliver, and pay for care be changed in order to increase access, improve quality, and the cost of healthcare services? This is a VERY BIG question that begs for a simple answer. But we should not be tempted by such simplicity. If the answer was simple, we more than likely would have already implemented it.
Rather, we need to dig through the different layers and dimensions of the US healthcare system to be able to see some of the underlying challenges, issues, barriers, and real opportunities that are part of the “big picture.”
So, from that big picture perspective, what would you change about the US healthcare system to make it better? Pick one aspect and support your decision with credible evidence. Provide the decision-making framework you applied to answer this question. Please include your evaluation of the likely unintended consequences of your idea.