The core areas of interest in health services research are access, quality, cost, and the evaluation of the impact of a service or technology. The following section briefly defines these basic concepts and several others that are prominent in the field. The definitions are based on the Glossary of Terms as Commonly Used in Health Care provided by the Alpha Center and on MeSH definitions. Entry is based on the person's wants, resources, and needs, and is influenced by distance from health care, waiting time, income, and regular source of care.
Researchers define access in terms of utilization rates .
A set of directions or principles to assist the health care practitioner with patient care decisions about appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, or other clinical procedures for specific clinical circumstances. Expenses incurred in the provision of services or goods. Types of costs include allowable, direct, indirect, and operating. Costs may not be equal to charges, the price of a service or the amount billed an individual or third party. The benefit provided by a treatment, service or technology to a group of people under usual circumstances of everyday life.