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.