The U.S. Healthcare System: Structure and Strategies

The U.S. healthcare system is an enormously complex, trillion-dollar industry. It includes thousands of hospitals, nursing homes, specialized care facilities, independent practices and partnerships, web-based and IT supported service companies, managed care organizations, and major manufacturing corporations. Healthcare is the fastest growing component of many consulting practices and investment portfolios. In dollar terms, it accounts for over 18% of GDP and is larger than the total economy of Italy. It continues to grow in size and complexity, complicating the long-standing problems of increasing costs, limited consumer access, and inconsistent quality. And, the historic Affordable Care Act has resulted in significant changes throughout the entire industry and will have major implications for years to come. This tremendous dynamism is unmatched by any other industry and offers incredible opportunities for new business endeavors."