Medical curricula should teach doctors about actual health care costs
The AMA recently released a position statement on Doctor's Role in Stewardship of Health Care Resources 2016 which calls on medical schools, postgraduate and continuing professional development (CPD) curricula to teach doctors about actual health care costs and how to practise effective stewardship including how their own clinical decision-making can affect health care expenditure.
These curricula should also address the efficacy and cost of new and current technologies, tests, treatments and procedures so doctors can make informed recommendations as to the most relevant, cost-effective tests, treatments and procedures for their patients. Individual institutions should also inform doctors about institutional health care costs.
“Health care resources need to be appropriately managed so that all patients can continue to receive the best quality care, now and in the future. Individual doctors affect health care expenditure through their clinical recommendations and decisions regarding patient treatment, and doctors in training are acutely aware of their responsibility in this area, “said Dr John Zorbas, Chair, AMACDT.
This position statement complements the release of the AMA Position Statement on the Role of Doctors in Stewardship of Healthcare Financing and Funding Arrangements 2016
AMA Position Statement on the Doctor’s Role in Stewardship of Health Care Resources
