Creating A Better Health Care System

America needs a better health care system and now is the time to start a national dialogue. These resources are designed to equip hospital leaders to have conversations in their communities about creating a better health care system ... resources to lead discussions, background materials, key reading, and related links.

The American Hospital Association represents thousands of hospitals helping millions of people, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As just one of many who are interested in a better health care system, we are launching an effort to begin to build support for the need for a better health care system in America and to use the strength of many to assure this issue remains on our nation's political agenda.

We're beginning a journey ... and the endpoint is as yet unknown. To start, we're leading a process to do one simple thing -- listen. If we start by listening to the public, to families, workers, businesses, nurses, doctors, insurance companies, government and others, we hope to learn more about how people experience health care today in America, what's good about it, what's bad about it, and what needs to be fixed.

Presentation

The Case for a Better Health Care System
A jumping-off point for discussion, this Powerpoint presentation provides an overview of what's wrong with America's health care system.

Background Papers

Communities Shaping a Vision for America's 21st Century Health and Healthcare, by the Wye River Group on Healthcare. This report distills the results of discussions with health care leaders in 10 communities across the country. The discussions reveal deep concern about the current direction of U.S. health care and a great desire to move forward with constructive change. The report also contains a community profile highlighting the shared values and principles articulated in each community.

Wanted: A Better Health Care System in America  This paper provides an overview of what's wrong with our health care system.

Focus Group Guide

 Conducting Conversations about Health Care in Your Community: Hospital Leaders Discussion Guide
Get the discussion going in your community. These materials guide you through how to conduct a focus group in your community--how to set it up, who to include, and what questions to ask.

Basic Facts about the US Health Care System

 

Overview of the United States Health Care System
Learn basic facts about the United States Health Care System. How much does our nation spend on health care? Where do the dollars go? Who pays the bill?

TrendWatch Chartbook 2006
Look at trends in health care spending, financing and coverage as well as detailed data on the hospital field.

Reading List

 

Links