Front cover image for An introduction to the U.S. health care system

An introduction to the U.S. health care system

Thesis, Dissertation, English, ©2007
Springer Publishing Company, New York, ©2007
Academic Dissertation
1 online resource (xix, 308 pages) : illustrations
9786610866908, 9780826103154, 6610866902, 0826103154
1034901553
Cover
Contents
Foreword to the Sixth Edition
Preface to the Sixth Edition
Abbreviations
Chapter 1 Introduction
Health and Health Care
Health Care Systems
U.S. Health Care System
Future of the U.S. Health Care System
Chapter 2 Health Care Workforce
Overview
Physicians
Nursing
Physician Assistants
Health Care Workforce Outside the Hospital and Physician Office
Conclusions
Chapter 3 Hospitals and Other Health Care Institutions
Introduction
Some Numbers
Hospital Structure
Public General Hospitals
The Hospital in the Present Era
Long-Term Care: The Example of Nursing
Chapter 4 Primary and Ambulatory Care
Primary Care
Ambulatory Care
Conclusions
Chapter 5 Government and the Health Care System
Introduction
Some Historical Background
The Constitutional Basis of Government Authority in Health Care
The Health Care Functions of Government
The Federal Government and the Provision of Health Services
State Governments' Role in Health
Local Governments' Role in Health Services
Problems in Public Health
Conclusions
Chapter 6 Financing
Introduction
How Much Is Spent
Where the Money Comes From, Within the System
Where the Money Goes
How the Money Is Paid: Providers, Payers, and Payments
Conclusions
Chapter 7 Health Care System Performance
Introduction
Quality of Health Care
Equity of Health Care
Efficiency of Health Care
A National Scorecard
Data and Information Technology
Conclusions
Chapter 8 From Prepaid Group Medical Practice to Managed Care
Introduction
Group Medical Practice
Health Maintenance Organizations
Managed Care
Integrated Delivery Systems
Managed Care Today
Some Policy Issues in Managed Care
Chapter 9 Health Care Reform
Introduction
History of Change
National Health Insurance as Solution
Some Contemporary Approaches to NHI
The Present Situation
Epilogue
A New Era of Change?
What Kind of Change?
A Private System?
A Public System Is Preferable
Appendix I List of Critical Reports on the U.S. Health Care Delivery System, 1927-2006
Appendix II Sources of Data
Appendix III Glossary of Terms
Index
Last Page
Title from e-book title screen (viewed September 13, 2007)