Managed care: changing the way we practice

As transformation of the nation's healthcare system continues, one thing is certain-managed care is here to stay. It has been shown that the majority of people are happy with their managed care plans, and the business sector is very happy with its containment of costs. But what about healthcare professionals? Are we happy with managed care? Happy or not, we now live in a managed care environment and over the next several years, the penetration in our markets will increase markedly. How is managed care changing the way in which nurse executives practice? The author examines the impact of managed care on executive practice and includes interviews with two nurse executives who provide insight into their own practice transformation as the result of managed care. Strategies for effectively meeting the demands of role transformation related to managed care are also presented.