Schroth Lynn, Khawaja Ruthy
Methodist International, Houston, Texas, USA.
Front Health Serv Manage. 2007 Winter;24(2):19-30.
Healthcare worldwide is undergoing a dramatic change consistent with the changes that globalization has brought in many major industries. While medical care has a long tradition of international cooperation and sharing of expertise, this current phenomenon is very different because of the unique combination of demand from international hospitals paired with a new ability and willingness of U.S. hospitals to become engaged in international endeavors. Educated and Internet-savvy consumers, a growing middle class in emerging markets, highly trained physicians, and struggling public health systems that are unable to meet the needs and expectations of patients are some of the forces behind the demand for globalization in healthcare. This significant demand is being met by the capacity of major U.S. medical centers to transfer comprehensive management expertise and intellectual property to international sites. Consequently, the mobilization of health services globally is concurrent with the expectation that healthcare services will be validated through standardization of quality and safety measurement systems. This universal movement to define "quality outcomes" will provide the platform that finally pushes the true globalization of healthcare.
全球医疗保健行业正在经历一场巨大变革，这与全球化给许多主要行业带来的变化相一致。虽然医疗保健领域长期以来一直有国际合作和专业知识共享的传统，但当前这种现象却大不相同，这是因为国际医院的需求与美国医院参与国际事务的新能力和意愿的独特结合。受过教育且精通互联网的消费者、新兴市场不断壮大的中产阶级、训练有素的医生以及难以满足患者需求和期望的公共卫生系统，是推动医疗保健全球化需求的部分因素。美国主要医疗中心向国际机构转让全面管理专业知识和知识产权的能力，满足了这一巨大需求。因此，全球卫生服务的动员与通过质量和安全测量系统标准化来验证医疗保健服务的期望同时出现。这场定义“质量结果”的全球运动将提供最终推动医疗保健真正全球化的平台。
