Healthcare Decision Making

The aim of this chapter is to explore the factors that health managers adopt when making decisions on how to allocate limited healthcare resources. The objective is to increase knowledge and understanding of decision making processes at the macro, meso, and micro levels and priority setting. An examination of current healthcare decision-making processes used for resource allocation around the world highlights the disparities in models and approaches and the often ad hoc nature of decisions made. A description of the allied health workforce highlights the size and significance of this workforce and why understanding decisions made in regards to allied health resources is of importance. Issues of access and equity are also considered in relation to notions of fairness and efficacy in relation to health outcomes.