Question

Discuss the concept of managed care. Why was it created? What were its goals? Have these goals changed? Has it worked? How it can be improved?

Answer 1

Managed care or managed healthcare is a system that integrates the delivery of appropriate healthcare and financial support using a comprehensive set of service . Its main emphasis is to reduce the cost of providing for profit health care ,and improving the quality of care .

Hence ,it is health care delivery system which is organised or created to manage cost , quality and utilisation.

# The four goals of managed care are:-

1. Advanced person centred and self managed health .

2. Transform health care delivery and community health .

3. Foster Research, Scientific knowledge and Innovation .

4. Enhance Nations Health IT infrastructure .

Initially there were dual goals of managing healthcare cost and improving quality of health care were entitled later on it was improvised and converted to four cheif goals .

Yes ,it is being tremendously used or we can say it is so useful that it is being used in majority of health care system as it provides an organised way to deal with the patient care delivery system including all parameters needed to be mandatory. It ensures that the consumers or public is getting all the advantages of managed care that are :-

- improve access to care for

- enhance the quality of care

- better manage the cost of care

- increase the effectiveness of care and facilitate preventive initiatives.

It can be improved by the following ways :-

- using democratic leadership style

- proper monitoring and surveillance of healthcare services

- team work is essential tool

- provision of resources and information facilities

- coordination with other clinics

- support from the government and there health care organisations .