Additional information Leaders of several key physician groups voiced support for a new Institute of Medicine report that recommends overhauling the health care delivery system. They called on the federal government to take action. The report, released this month, says key things need to happen if health care quality is to substantially improve. It must become more patient centered, efforts should be focused on treating chronic conditions and technology must play a much more significant role in health care communication and delivery. Even as the groups were beginning to contemplate what action they should take to guide the report's implementation, they said the federal government must play a key role to ensure quality of care.
Physician groups see federal government playing key role in ensuring quality of care.
The new report said health care should be safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient and equitable. Physicians should base decisions on the best scientific knowledge and be more proactive to patient needs, the report said. Greater use of technology would save time and money. Between the care we have and the care we could have lies not just a gap, but a wide chasm. Although much of the report calls for sweeping changes that would be made by government, hospitals, health insurers and health insurance purchasers, some aspects of the report could more directly affect practicing physicians.