"We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost" President Obama, 1/20/09

The Archimedes Model is a full-scale simulation model of human physiology, diseases, behaviors, interventions, and healthcare systems. By using advanced methods of mathematics, computing, and data systems, the Model enables managers, administrators, and policymakers to be better informed and to make smarter decisions than has previously been possible. http://archimedesmodel.com/archimedesmodel.html

Don Berwick, CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement offers an inspiring, chalalenging, highly contemporary message on what everyone can do to solve America's healthcare crisis.  He cites exemplary work in LaCrosse, WI as an example of success.  click this WEB address:  http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/AudioAndWebPrograms/BerwickForumKeynote2009.htm

The Commonwealth Fund report helps answerer these questions:

How will health reform help more people obtain coverage and access to care? Who will be helped?

What will happen to health care costs as a result of reform?

How will people's health insurance choices be affected?

How will health care delivery change as a result of health care reform?

What else needs to be done?

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Other/2010/What-Will-Happen-Under-Health-Reform-and-Whats-Next.aspx

See AMA summary:  http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/399/hsr-patient-information.pdf

See AMA summary of coverage provisions of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

Web site up again after lack of funding shut it down for several months.  More effort is now going in to make it ever more useful.

 

Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis describes the health care reform efforts of the past and what he believes is needed is still a must-read since the 2010 health reform act will need much improvement.

The Commonwealth Fund has launched a new Web site, WhyNotTheBest.org, that allows health care providers, researchers, and professionals to easily conduct side-by-side comparisons of 4,500 hospitals nationwide, track performance over time against numerous benchmarks, and download tools to improve health care quality.

A Reader's Digest "... team interviewed dozens of experts from think tanks, business, academia, nonprofits, government, hospitals, and private practice".  A succinct report is available at http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/18-ideas-to-reform-health-care-now/article101364.html  .  CAUTION is advised as always since selection and editorial methods are not specified so biases may not be apparent.

Click this Commonwealth Fund site to read a report that will also lead to the full scientific report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.  Insurance coverage increased from 57% to 98%, life expectancy improved a small amount in 10 years mainly among the previously underserved, and health spending remained the same at 5-6% of GDP.  Concerns grow about expected increased population demands for service and an already large national debt.  http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/1103_Davis_learning_from_Taiwan.pdf?section=4039