Assessing Medical Technologies

New drugs, new devices, improved surgical techniques, and innovative diagnostic procedures and equipment emerge rapidly.

But development of these technologies has outpaced evaluation of their safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and ethical and social consequences.

This volume, which is "strongly recommended" by The New England Journal of Medicine "to all those interested in the future of the practice of medicine," examines how new discoveries can be translated into better care, and how the current system's inefficiencies prevent effective health care delivery.

In addition, the book offers detailed profiles of 20 organizations currently involved in medical technology assessment, and proposes ways to organize U.S. efforts and create a coordinated national system for evaluating new medical treatments and technology. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1. Introduction2. The Scope of U.S. Medical Technology Assessment3. Methods of Technology Assessment4. Effects of Clinical Evaluation on the Diffusion of MedicalTechnology5.

Reimbursement and Technology Assessment6. Medical Technology Assessment in Developed Countries: Trends andOpportunities for Collaboration7.

Conclusions and RecommendationsAppendix A: Profiles of 20 Technology Assessment ProgramsAppendix B: Selected PapersIndex