The Healthcare Environment

In this section, you'll find information on local and national healthcare issues, challenges, and opportunities.

American healthcare in the 21st century: The last 25 years of American healthcare have been exciting and daunting. We've seen:

1. An explosion of new medical knowledge. This has allowed us to treat more people and more conditions. It also has led to a corresponding demand for those treatments and services.
2. A dramatic increase in healthcare spending, creating conflicts and generating enormous pressure to control costs.
   • The data—documenting rising costs
   • The consequences
3. The development of some very promising approaches to address issues of productivity and cost-control. These approaches include both clinical and management solutions.

Healthcare issues and challenges

• Rising costs, wanting more
• What Intermountain is doing
• Healthcare Reform