Health Care Competitiveness, Essay Example

Porter’s approach towards redefining health care and making it more competitive while creating value for the public has been criticized by many authors (Fortin). Some of the strongest arguments that critics use are the complexity of the health care system and the hardship of measuring outcomes. Below I would like to reflect on some of the main concepts outlined by Porter.

The Value based/positive sum competition is a concept designed to refocus health care and ensure that systems are created to serve the interest of the mos important stakeholders: patients. Today, according to Porter, there is a systematic problem that makes providers divide value, instead of increasing it. Cost shifting instead of cost reduction hinders the health care system’s ability to increase value. Trying to increase bargaining power, and restricting the choice and access to health care services also creates zero sum, instead of positive sum.

Porter also recommends that the health care reform should include the creation of a value-based insurance system, instead of a “general system”. The current health care of the United States does not reward those who create value, but those who shift costs.

Porter (3) recommends that value and health outcomes are measured through the whole cycle of health care, instead of individually for each intervention. True process measures need to be introduced to increase the value and competitiveness of health care. Finally, Porter (3) states that health care delivery needs to be organized around medical conditions, instead of individual visits. Overall, Porter (2) focuses on providing patients with essential information that helps them choose the best value. Incentives for both payers and providers can be optimized to increase the value within the health care system.

Works Cited

Fortin, Fred. “Top Ten Reasons Critics Say “Value-Based Competition” in Health Care Won’t Work” 2007. Web.

Porter, Michael E. (3) “A strategy for health care reform—toward a value-based system.” New England Journal of Medicine 361.2 (2009): 109-112.

Porter, Michael E. (2). “Redefining competition in health care.” Harvard Business Review 82.10 (2004): 152.