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Show JULY 1, 1994 Dadge City Neins : | PAGE ee INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH CARE A Preview of Health Care in the Year 2000 same-day surgical centers or physician offices. This helps control costs and frees up more health care resources for more people. For example, just a few years ago a gall bladder operation STEVE KOHLERT SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH CARE required up to one week in a hospital. Today, new surgi- cal techniques can have you recovering at home the next }« as the old adage says, rationing. We believe our society will develop a unique- ly American solution to these issues. One example is the directive made by former President Richard Nixon instructing his caregivers to withhold any extreme lifesaving procedures if he fell gravely ill. All consumers of health care will have to be care. The efficiencies of sharing support services, joint quality improvement 2000. By responding to market demands, the health care industry has worked hard to bring down the medical inflation rate. It is currently less than six percent-a dramatic improvement over efforts, and close collegial telationships will draw physicians to these groups. PREVENTION: Traditionally, health care has been about healing the sick. In previous years. Health care costs, nothing is as constant as change, especially in health IN LICG UNE CONIIt social issues of care the 1990s, will NONCMNI Cs eit eAltets With so many proposals circulating about health care reform, many of our readers are wondering what we think health care will really be like when the dust finally settles. While we don’t have a crystal ball to pinpoint serious growth in health care costs. will be enacted, we can pre- These are just some of the dict a general direction as a result of the market forces changes in health care that we can expect in the future. which are already molding a new health care system. There is value in looking ahead. It helps us understand the choices currently before us. It also helps us prepare for the new realities. ACCESS: The biggest and most apparent change will be access. day. By the year 2000 we will see more breakthroughs in technology and more medical procedures conducted in outpatient settings. g tion will guarantee most or all Americans access to basic health care. Instead of receiving basic health care services in more expensive hospital aT FITS UCN Fava tL URC ON DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND SELF ACCOUNTABILITY: Our society faces some difficult decisions. Lifesaving technologies bring about more accountable for their own health. Those who engage in high-risk behaviors may be asked to share more of the cost of their health coverage. Consumers will need to be more involved in deciding about their own treatment and that of family members. Emergency rooms will be used only for the most severe medical situations. Most health care issues will be addressed in neighbor- the future, consumers, health care providers, business, and government will focus more on preventing illness. Health plans will encourage their members to participate in screenings to detect illnesses in the early stages. Future developments in medicine will enable physicians to identify genetic tendencies and correct potential problems before they manifest them- settings, patients will go to neighborhood clinics medical miracles for a few at the expense of and physician offices for the In the next century, more down costs. vast majority of their health care for many. Other countries, such as Canada and Great Britain, have taken drastic steps to limit access to these expensive services through health care and more physicians will care needs. Many surgeries COSTS: Health care costs, one of the most vexing social issues of PHYSICIANS: work in health care systems which combine insurance, physician services, outpatient treatment, and hospital We applaud all those in our local communities and nationwide who are working to move our health care system into a new and improved era. We want to hear from you. Please call us or write with your questions for IHC Dialogue. THC DIALOGUE ON HEALTH CARE 36 South State Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 1-800-889-3337 selves as illness. These hood facilities. and procedures that once required hospitalization are now being performed in improved technology, plus business and government efforts will help check the _which government reforms Health care legisla- This has been achieved through quality initiatives and restructuring health care advances will improve the quality of life and hold "aie the 1990s, will be more under control by the year IHC INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH CARE 12 |
