Economic and ethical considerations in managed care

The growth of managed care has had a significant impact on the way hospitals provide medical services, the relationships between hospitals and physicians, and the relationships between providers and patients. This impact arises primarily from the economic constraints that managed care places on the provider. As hospital employees or contractors, and as consumers of health care services, clinical engineering personnel need to understand the effects of managed care on the hospital and the physician. Beyond general information, this knowledge can play a useful role in understanding the impact of managed care on the acquisition and use of medical technology, and the increasing role that clinical engineering can play in guiding investment in, use and maintenance of hospital medical equipment. Ironically, this potential for increased value occurs at a time when clinical engineering services and departments themselves are under increased scrutiny for their more measurable costs and value.