THE SURGEONS ROLE IN IMPROVING MEDICAL-CARE

Surgeons have a history of almost 100 years of being in the forefront of efforts to standardize medical care and improve patients' health ou tcomes. Recently, increases in the ''for-profit'' sector have made it more difficult for patients to receive quality medical care. In this n ew era, surgeons need to stay involved in all areas of the establishme nt of patient care standards, to ensure patients continue to have acce ss to surgical treatments. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.