The women-centered health care team: integrating perspectives from managed care, women's health, and the health professional workforce

Examines the congruencies between the goals of managed care organizations & women's health, highlighting how recent developments have made the field of medical knowledge gender specific. It is argued that the US Instit of Medicine's failure to acknowledge the gender specificity of health has resulted from ignoring current evidence that (1) women are the main consumers, (2) policymakers have begun to focus on women's health issues, (3) women's primary care is hindered by inadequate gender information, & (4) the fragmentary nature of women's health requires better delivery systems. It is further contended that integrated care & a team approach involving clinical, managerial, & interpersonal care specialists would significantly improve current managed care systems. Also discussed are gender-specific workforce factors, & physician, nurse, & mental health provider training. 54 References. D. Bajo