Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach [Paperback]

Leiyu Shi (Author), Douglas A. Singh (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076374512X | ISBN-13: 978-0763745127 | Publication Date: September 5, 2007 | Edition: 4

In a clear, cohesive format, Delivering Health Care in America provides a comprehensive overview of the basic structures and operations of the US health system from its historical origins and resources, to its individual services, cost, and quality. Using a unique systems approach, it brings together an extraordinary breadth of information into a highly accessible, easy-to-read text that clarifies the complexities of health care organization and finance, while presenting a solid overview of how the various components fit together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...very interesting and informative to those in the health care "system" of America...worth adding to your library."(AAMA Executive -- Journal of the American Academy of Medical Administrators) -- AAMA Executive (journal of the American Academ

"Let me begin by saying that I liked this book very much...will be well received within the academic community." -- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, June 7, 2001

For anyone returning to the U.S. to practice in health care, this book provides the missing evolutionary pieces that "time away" may have created." -- Hanrahan, Susan, PT, PhD, Physical Therapy, March 2001 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 650 pages
• Publisher: Jones and Bartlett; 4 edition (September 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076374512X
• ISBN-13: 978-0763745127
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Hospital Administration
  • #6 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Health Policy
  • #9 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Health Care Delivery

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to the American health care system, November 13, 2002

By 

Nathan Jones (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach (Paperback)

The book is a good basic introduction to the American health care system. If you are doing advanced health policy research this book is not for you. If you are teaching a class for undergraduates (or are someone who wants to know about 'nuts and bolts' issues) this would be perfect. For what it does (basic intro), it does well but do not look for sophisticated analysis here.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply outstanding as an introduction to healthcare., December 1, 2008

By 

James C. Samans "Author, Spontaneous Tourism:... (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach (Paperback)

Almost every class has a textbook, and almost every professor assures his or her students that his or class' particular textbook is worth buying. Rarely is this true. In the case of Shi & Singh's book, though, I actually agree.

I bought this book for the first course that I took on the U.S. healthcare system. I was skeptical but Shi & Singh quickly won me over with their excellent writing, which presents the material in quick, readable fashion and stays relevent and fresh throughout.

Some might see "bias" here, because the authors are quite clear from the start that the U.S. healthcare "system"--I use the quotes because one thing that this text makes clear is that America has no system at all--is fundamentally flawed. To me, that is not bias, because it is a point on which virtually everyone agrees. Moreover, while Shi & Singh do advocate for the creation of a true system, they do not limit their approach to one model. It is when one contrasts Singapore's true-market model with Britain's pure-national model that one comes to grasp how bizarre and nonsensical the American approach to healthcare really is, a solution that satisfies no one and does little if anything efficiently from either a market or a social perspective.

I came to Amazon.com today to sell back my books from this semester. The others have been posted. Shi & Singh's Delivering Health Care, however, is a rare example of a text that will be staying on my shelf. I recommend this book to everyone interested in understanding healthcare in America.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Systems Approach is not very systematic, February 17, 2007

By 

Roberta J. Aberle "Ladybob1" (Denver CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach, Third Edition (Paperback)

This is one of the worst text books I have ever used for a course. The content is dense and difficult.
Chapters are not well outlined and don't follow sequence provided in text.

Too many inconsistencies in the data and materials. Chapter 12, page 524 says that the HEDIS quality review has 56 measures, the glossary says 71. This is only one of many I identified. I spotted far too many grammatical errors, incomplete sentences and more for a 3rd Edition book.

It is more than obvious that some updates have occured in certain sections but have not been rolled throughout the entire text. This textbook is in dire need of an overhaul and condensing. Major points are diluted with it's over-complicated verbiage, poor flow and lack of comprehensive outline.