Appropriateness

Argues that health care systems of developed countries share common problems, including an explosion of costly medical technologies. The rapid increase in the number and sophistication of these technologies has jeopardized the ability to provide care to all potential beneficiaries, and it has also made it almost impossible to keep track of the indications, complications, and costs of procedures and drugs (i.e., to practice good medicine without additional input). This article presents a potential solution to both of these problems--the explicit measurement of appropriateness of care--and describes a method by which appropriateness of care could be measured.