The Obama Administration is taking heat for early glitches in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, largely as a result of problems with the website, healthcare.gov.
But even if and when the act is working flawlessly, from a technical standpoint, many unknowns will remain as many Americans get used to different layers of accountability.
Last week at Marquette University, some leaders in the field of dispute resolution gathered to talk about solving conflict in health care. It’s a field in which Milwaukee native Leonard Marcus is a nationally recognized expert.
He says policymakers don't often anticipate conflicts that may arise in the health care systems they create.
"Many times, the systems are designed, or rules are promulgated without understanding specifically how they’re going to affect people on the front line," he says.
Marcus directs the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Harvard School of Public Health. He’s also a leader in emergency preparedness and disaster response.
He was back in Milwaukee to deliver the keynote address at the Dispute Resolution and Health Care Conference held by Marquette University’s graduate program in dispute resolution.
