This series of discussions presents commentaries on where the field of healthcare operations management is now and … operations analysis in improving healthcare delivery. <i>Manufacturing Service Oper. Management</i> 14(4):488-494]. …

There is now a broad consensus among healthcare professionals that the U.S. healthcare delivery system is woefully … inefficient and needs to be radically redesigned. Healthcare costs have always been a driving force in policy and management, but … reducing costs. In this paper, I describe some of the essential features of the U.S. healthcare system and some critical issues …