Understanding the Components of the Healthcare Delivery System

1. Health Care Providers

- Physicians

- Nurses

- Pharmacists

- Allied health professionals (e.g., physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, etc.)

2. Health Care Facilities

- Hospitals

- Clinics

- Ambulatory surgical centers

- Long-term care facilities

3. Health Care Payers

- Private health insurance companies

- Medicare

- Medicaid

- Private pay (out-of-pocket)

4. Health Care Regulators

- Government agencies (e.g., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS], the Food and Drug Administration [FDA], etc.)

5. Health Care Industry Suppliers

- Pharmaceutical companies

- Medical device manufacturers

- Health information technology (IT) companies