What Is The Goal, How Do We Get There?

Doing the wrong thing is not effectiveness; doing more of the wrong thing is not efficiency. The high level of resource commitment and repeated efforts at reform leave no doubt as to the high priority the U.S. places on health and medical care. Equally telling is the lower health status relative to other industrialized countries. The U.S. is not effective or efficient at achieving optimum health status for individuals and the population. The disregard, lack of understanding, inappropriate response and manipulation of health data is frightening. An excessive amount of medical care is detrimental to achieving optimum health status. Good intentions do not compensate for doing more of the wrong thing or taking the right thing to excess. The economic and political systems are guilty of both. Is the goal more medical care or better health?