- R G Levitt: Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Managed care challenges physicians to learn to collaborate with healthcare executives to achieve cost containment while enhancing quality of patient care. This report describes specific steps to successful working relationships between physicians and healthcare executives. "Learning the culture," recognizing differences, offering assistance, taking steps toward closer collaboration, and avoiding pitfalls are interpersonal skills and behaviors that allow physicians to become part of the decision process in a managed care environment.