Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care
Authors: Jeremy D. Graham, Darryl K. Potyk, Elise D. Raimi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2011)

Letters20 December 2011Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious CareJeremy D. Graham, MA, DO, Darryl K. Potyk, MD, and Elise D. Raimi, MSPHJeremy D. Graham, MA, DOFrom Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Spokane, WA 99204; and Spokane, WA 99203.Search for more papers by this author, Darryl K. Potyk, MDFrom Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Spokane, WA 99204; and Spokane, WA 99203.Search for more papers by this author, and Elise D. Raimi, MSPHFrom Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Spokane, WA 99204; and Spokane, WA 99203.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-155-12-201112200-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We read with interest Weinberger's recommendation (1) that cost-consciousness become a seventh core competency in graduate medical education. The existing competency of systems-based practice is “manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care ... ” (2). This arguably already includes cost-consciousness but is in such general language that high costs are largely unaddressed in training and practice. We concur with Weinberger that cost-awareness should be an explicit competency. In addition, we emphasize that meaningful cost-conscious behavior by a physician is currently constrained by unaddressed structural factors.... References1. Weinberger SE. Providing high-value, cost-conscious care: a critical seventh general competency for physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155:386-8. [PMID: 21930856] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Program Requirements: General Competencies. Accessed at www.acgme.org/outcome/comp/GeneralCompetenciesStandards21307.pdf on 28 September 2011. Google Scholar3. Wilkes MS, Bell RA, Kravitz RL. Direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising: trends, impact, and implications. Health Aff (Millwood). 2000;19:110-28. [PMID: 10718026] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Morra D, Nicholson S, Levinson W, Gans DN, Hammons T, Casalino LP. US physician practices versus Canadians: spending nearly four times as much money interacting with payers. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011;30:1443-50. [PMID: 21813866] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Graham JD, Potyk D, Raimi E. Hospitalists' awareness of patient charges associated with inpatient care. J Hosp Med. 2010;5:295-7. [PMID: 20533578] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Jeremy D. Graham, MA, DO; Darryl K. Potyk, MD; Elise D. Raimi, MSPHAffiliations: From Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Spokane, WA 99204; and Spokane, WA 99203.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoProviding High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care: A Critical Seventh General Competency for Physicians Steven E. Weinberger Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Christine K. Cassel Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Carlos O. Weiss , Maia Holden , and Matthew McNabney Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Ira S. Nash Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Christopher L. Knight Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Erik A. Wallace Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Steven E. Weinberger Providing High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care Brian Pollak Metrics 20 December 2011Volume 155, Issue 12Page: 857KeywordsBehaviorConflicts of interestGraduate medical educationHealth careHealth care providers ePublished: 20 December 2011 Issue Published: 20 December 2011 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2011 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...