Biomaterial Database

The professional perspective--why get involved? 1994

R Y McMurtry, and A D Brown

Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Health Sciences Centre, London.

Four myths threaten Canadian medical education and the health care system. These myths are: (1) that health care costs are out of control; (2) that physicians can stimulate demand for health services; (3) that health research is a nicety; and (4) that health is an externality to considerations of economic policy. These myths tend to focus current concerns on sustainability, rather than on the ideal of continuous improvement. Comparative examinations reveal that Canadian health care spending is not out of line with that in other developed countries and suggest relative efficiency in the Canadian health care system. A broad and introspective approach to medicine is required that can critically address diverse issues such as variance in clinical practice patterns and the impact of poverty and unemployment. If health care educators can enshrine this approach in medical schools, professional medicine will be able to respond to the changing needs of Canadian society.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010819	Physician's Role	The expected function of a member of the medical profession.	Physicians' Role,Physician Role,Physician's Roles,Physicians Role,Physicians' Roles,Role, Physician's,Role, Physicians',Roles, Physician's,Roles, Physicians'
D012109	Research Support as Topic	Work about financial support of research activities.	Grants and Subsidies, Research,Subsidies, Research,Research Subsidies,Research Subsidy
D002170	Canada	The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D006291	Health Policy	Decisions, usually developed by government policymakers, for determining present and future objectives pertaining to the health care system.	Health Care Policies,Health Policies,Healthcare Policy,National Health Policy,Care Policies, Health,Health Care Policy,Health Policy, National,Healthcare Policies,National Health Policies,Policies, Health,Policies, Health Care,Policies, Healthcare,Policy, Health,Policy, Health Care,Policy, Healthcare
D006296	Health Services	Services for the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health.	Services, Health,Health Service
D014478	Unemployment	The state of not being engaged in a gainful occupation.
D017048	Health Care Costs	The actual costs of providing services related to the delivery of health care, including the costs of procedures, therapies, and medications. It is differentiated from HEALTH EXPENDITURES, which refers to the amount of money paid for the services, and from fees, which refers to the amount charged, regardless of cost.	Medical Care Costs,Treatment Costs,Costs, Medical Care,Health Costs,Healthcare Costs,Cost, Health,Cost, Health Care,Cost, Healthcare,Cost, Medical Care,Cost, Treatment,Costs, Health,Costs, Health Care,Costs, Healthcare,Costs, Treatment,Health Care Cost,Health Cost,Healthcare Cost,Medical Care Cost,Treatment Cost
D018166	Health Care Reform	Innovation and improvement of the health care system by reappraisal, amendment of services, and removal of faults and abuses in providing and distributing health services to patients. It includes a re-alignment of health services and health insurance to maximum demographic elements (the unemployed, indigent, uninsured, elderly, inner cities, rural areas) with reference to coverage, hospitalization, pricing and cost containment, insurers' and employers' costs, pre-existing medical conditions, prescribed drugs, equipment, and services.	Healthcare Reform,Health Care Reforms,Healthcare Reforms,Reform, Health Care,Reform, Healthcare,Reforms, Health Care,Reforms, Healthcare