Economics Clinical Resource Area

As expenditures continue to rise rapidly, the economics of healthcare in the United States has been an increasingly important and evolving area of study. From 1965 to the 2001 spending on healthcare grew from 5.6% to 13.9% of the gross national product (Jacobs & Rapoport, 2002). There has been increased pressure to control spending, while improving the efficiency and quality of the healthcare system (Gold, Siegel, Russell, & Weinstein, 1996). The discipline of health economics has evolved to help examine the healthcare market in the United States. There are economic implications in all areas of healthcare including nursing. It is imperative for nurses to become more aware and involved with cost. The purpose of this resource area is to provide economic resources for nurses.

"Health services research examines how people get access to health care, how much care costs, and what happens to patients as a result of this care. The main goals of health services research are to identify the most effective ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high quality care; reduce medical errors; and improve patient safety."

—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, February 2002

Gold, M. R., Siegel, J. E., Russell, L. B., & Weinstein, M. C. (Eds.). (1996). Cost Effectiveness in Helath and Medicine. New York: Oxford Universtiy Press.

Jacobs, P., & Rapoport, J. (2002). The Economics of Health and Medical Care (Fifth ed.). Gaithersburg: Aspen Publication.