Abstract
Chronic disease is here to stay. The healthcare system needs to readjust its priorities and its mode of action accordingly. Such a transformation will not be easy. It involves rethinking almost every aspect of care as we know it. The roles of health practitioners will need to change with a redistribution of effort. Patients must become active and productive partners in care. Time concepts need to shift from events to episodes, with commensurate changes in payment that support a willingness to invest in care at the front end in expectation of later benefits. Information technology is central in both sharing information regarding clinical status and alerting caregivers to early signs of clinical change. Many forces will oppose such a shift, as the current acute-care approach has been comfortable and lucrative.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 221-227 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Aging Health |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2006 |
Keywords
- Case management
- Chronic disease
- Clinical glidepaths
- Managed care
- Patient-centered care
- Shared decision making