Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
The New Health Care Lexicon
Outcomes Management vs. Outcomes Research
As our world changes, so does our language. This column presents definitions of terms that are part of the new health care reform lexicon.
Outcomes Management
A system that encourages doctors to follow a set of guidelines (also called practice parameters or clinical paths) that research has shown to be the "one best way" to treat a medical ailment. Eventually, physicians' outcome records may be combined with their cost and quality-management profiles (see economic credentialing) and made public, to help consumers make informed decisions about quality care (see "Outcomes research").
Outcomes Research
The attempt to determine which medical treatments get the best results. The goal is to standardize care and ensure predictable, desired outcomes in patients' health.
These definitions are reprinted with permission from the glossary of Revolution: The New Health Care Takes Shape authored by noted health care futurist Russell C. Coile Jr.; published by Whittle Direct Books 1993.