Staying solvent in a consumer-driven culture

Description

Abstract: Consumerism in health care can be defined in several different ways, but primarily involves people treating health care as if it were a retail business. One implication of this phenomenon is that patients who don’t find what they want in a practice may be quick to shop around for an alternative physician or practice. This article takes a look at how to cope, and thrive, in an increasingly consumer-driven health care environment. A sidebar notes some ways to improve a physician’s bedside manner by adopting the HEART method.