Health Care Allocation

At a seminar recently we educators were challenged by a Utilization Review Nurse to make sure our graduates are "business and economics savvy". The idea of utilizing resources in the most cost effective manner as opposed to most caring manner disturbs me. I see a trend to allocate health care on the basis of income for the institution as a slippery slope to providing care to those who can pay receiving the best and the most. How are nurse educators addressing this in your curriculum? We are doing our best to produce responsible practioners with a strong ethical base and I am having problems with this issue. I would appreciate any and all comments from nurse educators.

------------------