The Ecology of Medical Care

Abstract

CURRENT discussions about medical care appear largely concerned with two questions: Is the burgeoning harvest of new knowledge fostered by immense public investment in medical research being delivered effectively to the consumers? Is the available quantity, quality and distribution of contemporary medical care optimum in the opinion of the consumers? In addition, it may be asked: Whose responsibility is it to examine these questions and provide data upon which sound judgments and effective programs can be based?The traditional indexes of the public's health, such as mortality and morbidity rates, are useful for defining patterns of ill-health and demographic characteristics . . .