Mary Grass: Health care by algorithm

Editor’s note: This commentary is by Mary Grass, who is retired and lives in Burlington.
An algorithm is a procedure for solving a problem. Any algorithm is only as good as its information about the problem is accurate. When the problem is designing a system to deliver health care in Vermont most efficiently, it is by definition complex. But to make costs and revenues the only criteria of relevance in the design of the system is a grave and costly error. Patient health and need must be con