Summary

Most hospitals, health systems, and other provider organizations in the United States are facing real financial peril. Mounting receivables from high-deductible health plans, financially challenged consumers, continuing cuts in Medicare, and a precarious economic environment suggest that real health care revenue has peaked. With operating costs increasing and critical investments in infrastructure--both physical and virtual--not being made, health care providers must find new ways to survive.

In their groundbreaking collaboration, Paradox and Imperatives in Health Care , award-winning authors Jeffrey C. Bauer and Mark Hagland explain why providers must draw upon internal resources to increase net revenue and provide the quality of care that payers and consumers are demanding. Through numerous case studies, the authors show how pioneering health care organizations are using performance improvement tools--including lean management, Six-Sigma, and the Toyota Production System--to produce excellent services as inexpensively as possible. This book challenges health care leaders to change their status quo mentality and to put their organizations on a positive path... while redirection is still possible.

About the Authors

Dr. Jeffrey C. Bauer is a nationally recognized health futurist and medical economist. He is a Chicago-based partner in the management consulting practice of ACS Healthcare Solutions (Dearborn, MI). In his numerous publications and presentations, he forecasts the future of health care and describes practical, creative approaches to improving the health care delivery system.

Dr. Bauer has published more than 150 articles, books, Web pages, and videos on health care delivery. He speaks frequently to national audiences about key trends in health care, medical science, technology, reimbursement, information systems, public policy, and creative problem-solving. Dr. Bauer is often quoted in the national press and writes regularly for periodicals that cover the business of health care. For details, visit www.jeffbauerphd.com.

Mark Hagland is a nationally respected independent health care journalist. He has been recognized for the quality of his writing in a variety of areas and has won numerous awards in recognition of his achievements. He writes regularly for Healthcare Informatics,the Journal of AHIMA, Biotechnology Healthcare, Behavioral Healthcare, AuntMinnie.com, and other prominent publications in health care. He covers a wide range of topics and issues pertinent to the industry.