Skip to main content

Informing the Future Critical Issues in Health: Fourth Edition (2007) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Quality of Care: A Health Professional Duty
Pages 5-12

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 5...
... Despite spending that dwarfs that of every other country in the world, more than 15 percent of Americans had no health care insurance in 2005, and the United States lags behind dozens of other nations on health measures such as infant mortality and life expectancy. Despite striking scientific advances and new therapies, too often the quality of care that every citizen deserves is not delivered.
Read the entire page →
From page 6...
... The third and final report, Rewarding Provider Performance: Aligning Incentives in Medicare (2007) , took an important step further by analyzing the risks and benefits of instituting a pay-for performance program within Medicare to encourage a more value-driven health care system.
Read the entire page →
From page 7...
... Pay for performance creates these incentives, encouraging improved quality and value. To promote the participation of as many health care providers as possible, the program should reward those who improve their performance significantly, as well as those who meet or exceed designated thresholds of excellence.
Read the entire page →
From page 8...
... explored the chang ing role of the hospital emergency department and the national epidemic of overcrowded EDs and trauma centers. In 2003, emergency departments received nearly 114 million patients -- a 26 percent increase over the past decade, but dur ing the same period, the United States suffered a net loss of 703 hospitals and 425 emergency departments.
Read the entire page →
From page 9...
... To address the strengths, limitations, and future challenges of EMS, this report examined • the evolving role of EMS as an integral component of the overall health care system; • EMS system planning, preparedness, and coordina tion at the federal, state, and local levels; • EMS funding and infrastructure investments; • EMS workforce trends and professional education; and • EMS research priorities and funding. Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains (2007)
Read the entire page →
From page 10...
... Making Better Decisions The challenge of funding Social Security retirement benefits for "Baby Boom ers" is well known. Less understood is the more immediate and severe challenge facing the Social Security disability benefits system.
Read the entire page →
From page 11...
... . SOURCE: Improving the Social Security Disability Decision Process, p.
Read the entire page →
From page 12...
... ings exists at this time, but it recommended that SSA monitor and support promising alternative approaches to disability assessment. Improve ments to, and continuous updates of, the Listings will provide applicants with faster, more accurate determinations, thereby reducing administrative costs for SSA.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • emergency departments
  • security disability
  • emergency medical
  • medical services
  • pediatric emergency

  • disability benefits
  • trauma centers
  • hospitals reporting
  • health security
  • overall health

  • provided health
  • health expenditures
  • quality health
  • trauma care
  • disability decision

  • patients admitted
  • medicare provided
  • estimated medicare
  • hospital eds
  • seriously ill

  • expenditure provided
  • growing pains
  • wait hours
  • decision process
  • emergency services

  • hospital emergency
  • stressed emergency
  • fixing emergency
  • emergency department
  • health measures


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.