The Medical Enterprise

Tensions between health care costs and quality, the need for huge investments in cutting-edge technology, the balance between efficiency and reach, and merger-and-acquisitions fever all complicate a core goal of any nation: the healthiest population possible. The public and private infrastructure erected to finance and administer health services isn’t always patient-friendly, and the complexity of medical systems can stymie even the savviest consumer. Nonetheless, health systems, in partnership with insurers, philanthropists, and regulators, are well-positioned to think big and promote patient and clinician satisfaction while producing better outcomes. To succeed, they’ll have to engage investors and venture capitalists; tackle workforce issues, structural racism, and access to care; and confront privacy concerns and resource shortfalls.