Home care, medical care and the new competitive environment

Health-care organization and financing is rapidly changing in the USA due to competitive pressures. Parallel changes are occurring in other countries. These changes are affecting, and will affect, home care services. Watching these changes, and building on social models, leads one to focus on important developments. These developments include: point of service plans, disease management, outcomes measurement, price and quality competition. These changes will make measured outcomes and demonstrated value essential in home care.