United Healthcare 2001 Annual Report Download - page 13

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to employers and other health care payers, by lowering costs and improving
the health status of those affected. Better resource utilization and improved
short-term outcomes will translate into enhanced long-term health and more
appropriate economic outlays. Needless to say, these are positive gains for all.
LOOKING FORWARD: ACTION AND OPPORTUNITIES
Our nation has the most sophisticated and technology-rich health care system
in the world. The tragedy of our nation’s health care system is that, in spite of
its many impressive features, it has ultimately failed to make even basic care
consistently available to all of our citizens. While all of these considerations
illuminate the shortcomings of our health care system, they also highlight the
magnitude of the opportunity for our society by appropriately utilizing the
many tools that are already at our disposal.
The time for action is now. UnitedHealth Group remains committed to being
a leader in resolving the problems and issues now chronic to our health care
system. And we will pursue solutions on all fronts. We will continue to engage
our national leaders to address fundamental issues rather than narrow interests
that fail to advance the whole. We will continue to work with the medical
community to strengthen the fact-based clinical evidence resources at their
disposal, and to press for evidence-based medicine to be upheld as the standard
of quality and safety. Our investments in technology, information tools, facilitation
of care and basic operating disciplines will help for years to come in addressing
the challenges in our health care system regarding simplicity, efficiency, and
analysis and distribution of important data in order to facilitate informed
decision-making.
Resolving our health care problems, while retaining and enhancing all that is
good in our health care system, will not happen overnight or without some
pain. As all of us address the challenges and pursue the opportunities for
improvement, I believe that UnitedHealth Group can demonstrate many of the
better ways to approach health care. That, in turn, has the potential to signifi-
cantly enhance shareholder value. Yet there is far more at stake. Since our
inception, we have sought to contribute toward the creation of a more effective
health care system that can provide for the well-being of our nation and all of
its people without exceptions. We would not be in this business otherwise. I
promise to you that we will continue to do our part in advancing this national
discussion, while helping to provide tangible solutions and services.
Sincerely,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As all of us address
the challenges and
pursue the opportunities
for improvement,
I believe that
UnitedHealth Group
can demonstrate many
of the better ways to
approach health care.