About the author

Ellis “Mac” Knight MD, MBA, has over 40 years of experience in the healthcare arena as a practicing physician, physician executive, healthcare consultant, industry thought leader, and advocate for change. Dr. Knight has a particular interest in value-based care process design, healthcare economics, cost accounting, clinical integration, and physician/clinician leadership skill development.

Dr. Knight graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology and received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Oregon Health Science Center’s School of Medicine. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  He is a board-certified internist and has achieved fellowship status in the American College of Physicians, the Society of Hospital Medicine, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

While now retired from clinical practice, Mac has continued to advocate for positive, physician-led, change in the healthcare economy. He and his wife live in Atlanta, Georgia, taking advantage of the opportunities they now have to spend more time with their nearby children and grandchildren.

Contents

  • MODULE 1
  • Introduction: The Basic Sciences
  • Chapter 1 Definitions and Core Principles
  • Chapter 2 The Unique Aspects of the Healthcare Economy
  • Chapter 3 Business Models in Healthcare
  • Chapter 4 The Payment System
  • MODULE 2
  • Introduction: Pathophysiology
  • Chapter 1 Distortions in the Process of Exchange
  • Chapter 2 Invalid Assumptions About the Distorted Exchange Process
  • Chapter 3 The Perverse Nature of the FFS Model
  • Chapter 4 Clinically Integrated Networks
  • Chapter 5 Shifting Risk
  • Chapter 6 Waste
  • Chapter 7 Pricing in the Healthcare Economy
  • Chapter 8 Health “Insurance”
  • Chapter 9 Market Forces in the Healthcare Economy
  • Chapter 10 For-Profit vs. Not-for-Profit
  • Chapter 11 Physician Employment
  • Chapter 12 Monopolies
  • Chapter 13 Inequality
  • MODULE 3
  • Introduction: Therapeutics
  • Chapter 1 From Volume to Value
  • Chapter 2 Bundled Payments
  • Chapter 3 Accountable Care Organizations
  • Chapter 4 Correcting Defects in the Healthcare Economy Revealed by the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Chapter 5 Cost Accounting
  • Chapter 6 Care Process Design
  • MODULE 4
  • Introduction: Clinical Practice
  • Chapter 1 General Activities
  • Chapter 2 Specific Recommended Actions
  • EPILOGUE