The Social Implications of Health Care Communication Systems

This paper discusses some of the changes that might take place in this nation's health care system with the advent of national health insurance. These changes include structural reforms, planning and regulation, and the introduction of quality assurance mechanisms. The paper argues that a health care system will evolve that is both aggregated and regulated; and it foresees that computer and communication technologies will play significant roles in this evolution. The paper concludes by discussing some potentially harmful social consequences of these developments.