A Leadership Journey in Health Care
Since adapting the principles of the Toyota Production System to health care in 2002, Virginia Mason Health System has made enormous leaps forward in quality, safety, patient experience of care, and affordability. It has achieved world-class levels of patient satisfaction and has been honored as one of the safest hospitals in the country. A Leadership Journey in Health Care: Virginia Mason's Story supplies an inside look at process improvement from the world leader in applying Lean methods to health care. It presents key lessons learned as well as the best practices developed at Virginia Mason during its 12-year process improvement journey. Just as important, Virginia Mason's culture of leadership at all levels sets it apart from others in the health care universe. Describing why it's critical for leadership to be actively involved in any process improvement initiative, the book illustrates exactly what leadership looks like at all levels within Virginia Mason. In the book, bestselling author Charles Kenney introduces breakthrough new work at Virginia Mason that most health care audiences have yet to read about. He details the reasons why governance has played such a big role in Virginia Mason's success and discusses a game-changing initiative concerning respect for people. After reading this book, you will better understand the active leadership style that has propelled Virginia Mason's success. By following the best practices and lessons learned, you will be prepared to teach, coach, and encourage your team to achieve streamlined and standardized work, sustained improvements, and increased patient satisfaction.Foreword by Carolyn Corvi, Virginia Mason Health System/Virginia Mason Medical Center Boards of Directors; Retired Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
The Caregiver’s Guide to Cancer
Care for a loved one with cancer while caring for yourself Looking after someone with cancer can be complex, overwhelming, and emotionally draining all at once. As a caregiver, you may also overlook your own well-being while you focus on your loved one. This book empowers you to be an attentive, thoughtful, and compassionate caregiver for your friend or family member with cancer. You'll also find practical everyday advice for meeting your own physical and emotional needs while dealing with the unique challenges you face. Understanding cancer--Learn how cancer affects the body at every stage, determine the steps that come after diagnosis, and examine cancer treatments and side effects. Knowledge caregivers need--Find info on navigating health care, financial and legal decisions, and much more. What to say and ask--Find questions to ask your loved one's care team and health providers, and discover how to be an advocate in different situations. Support your loved one while also practicing self-care with the help of this compassionate choice in caregiving and cancer books.
Unforeseen Journey
Prepare yourself for this raw and honest account of the author's experience of caring for his mother in his home for ten years, including end of life sequences involved. The grips of Alzheimer's disease and the transition through the dying process are depicted here in detail. This emotional testimony is the definition of love itself, demonstrated in the care provided, but also shows the stresses and strains put upon the caregiver. As uplifiting and satisfying as this labor of love can be, there are also life changing consequences to the caregiver, including exhaustion and burnout. The goal of this book is to help caregivers avoid the negative effects of these feelings and to asure that the family member receives excellent care until the very end of life. The downfalls of informal or formal caregiving, along with the motivation and strategies to avoid them are presented, based on the author's experiences while caring for his aging mother. "I made mistakes caring for my mother. Some will say I am just being hard on myself, but I was there. I know. Complete honesty is expressed here. The details and emotions of this experience may be hard to understand or accept and may even be considered reprehensible by some individuals. I didn't understand many of my own feelings at the time, but I have tried to reconcile them". "My ignorance about the caregiving process and the effect it would have on my life altered the care I provided for my mom. Alzheimer's disease added to the difficulty of managing her care. The person I became was very different from the son who began the journey with her ten years earlier. This unforeseen and unfortunate transformation could have been prevented". The work necessary in caring for an aging individual unfortunately altered the relationship between my mom and me. The warmth and compassion I once had for her was replaced by as insensitive mechanical form of attention as the years passed. This unexpected transformation allowed me to be done with the work as fast as possible and onto what was important to me. I was already toward the end of my rope when the progression of Alzheimer's disease imposed its demnds on my time and patience. My stress level and sense of burden increased to the point where I wanted to be done. I had no strategy of dealing with this. These feelings negatively affected the care I provided my mom. Then an incident occurred that definitely led to her final decline toward death. This could have been avoided. I want to help those who are on, or about to embark on a similar path. Strategies and safegaurds are needed to prevent the family caregiver from being devoured by the job of caregiving. The long term consequences of this loving, yet stressful work can be avoided. This story no doubt validates the feelings many caregivers already have. What happen with my mother is my inspiration and I dedicate this to her.
Diabetes in Native Chicago
In Diabetes in Native Chicago Margaret Pollak explores experiences, understandings, and care of diabetes in a Native American community made up of individuals representing more than one hundred tribes from across the United States and Canada. Today Indigenous Americans have some of the highest rates of diabetes worldwide. While rates of diabetes climbed in reservation areas, they also grew in cities, where the majority of Native people live today. Pollak's central argument is that the relationship between human culture and human biology is a reciprocal one: colonial history has greatly contributed to the diabetes epidemic in Native populations, and the diabetes epidemic is being incorporated into contemporary discussions of ethnic identity in Native Chicago, where a vulnerability to the development of diabetes is described as a distinctly Native trait. This work is based upon ethnographic research in Native Chicago conducted between 2007 and 2017, with ethnographic and oral history interviews, observations, surveys, and archival research. Diabetes in Native Chicago illustrates how local understandings of diabetes are shaped by what community members observe in cases of the disease among family and friends. Pollak shows that in the face of this epidemic, care for disease is woven into the everyday lives of community members. Diabetes is not merely a physical disease but a social one, perpetuated by social policies and practices, and can only be thwarted by changing society.
How to Do Primary Care Educational Research
This practical guide is the first designed specifically to support planning, conducting and disseminating primary care educational research. Primary care practitioners must be engaged in life-long learning and keep abreast of developments in many educational research into how to address this has thus become of paramount importance.
How to Do Primary Care Educational Research
This practical guide is the first designed specifically to support planning, conducting and disseminating primary care educational research. Primary care practitioners must be engaged in life-long learning and keep abreast of developments in many educational research into how to address this has thus become of paramount importance.
Health Care a Community Concern?
Developed within the context of the expansion of the Canadian welfare state in the years following the Great Depression, the present organization of Canadian health care delivery is now in serious need of reform. This book documents the causes and effects of changes made in this century to Canada's health care policy. Particular emphasis is placed on the decades following 1940, the years in which Canada moved away from an individualistic entrepreneurial medical care system, first toward a collectivist biomedical model and then to a social model for health care. The changing roles of federal, provincial, and municipal government are explored, as are recent trends away from crisis-oriented health care toward an approach that stresses promotion of health. The authors argue that the original collectivist model restricted community members from participation in the decision-making process. Leaving health policy decisions in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats has led to a system that is poorly coordinated and often poorly managed. They propose a shift away from the "welfare state" model toward what has been called the "welfare society," in which there is greater participation of individuals and communities. They advocate partnership with business and research communities and reform and restructuring through regionalization.
Secrets of Medical Myotherapy
Secrets of Medical Myotherapy(TM) Advanced Techniques for Lasting Pain ReliefWhether you're just beginning your journey as a massage therapist or have years of experience under your belt, Secrets of Medical Myotherapy(TM) offers a powerful set of tools to help your clients find fast, effective, and lasting relief from pain.Developed from over three decades of clinical experience, this comprehensive manual distills the most effective soft tissue treatment techniques taught through Haase Myotherapy Seminars-an organization that has trained thousands of massage therapists, chiropractors, nurses, physical therapists, and physicians since 2000.Inside this course manual, you'll learn to confidently address common and complex conditions such as: Golfer's and tennis elbowCarpal tunnel syndromeBicipital tendonitisWhiplash injuriesMigrainesThoracic outlet syndromeScar tissue restrictions, ...and more.These methods are not just theory-they've been tested and proven effective in real clinical environments, helping hundreds of thousands of patients across North America.You'll also gain a deeper understanding of what truly makes a therapist advanced. It's not just about the techniques themselves, but how you apply them-the intensity, duration, and frequency that turn treatment into transformation. Just like two chefs using the same ingredients can yield different results, your outcomes will be shaped by your refined skill and application.Whether you're seeking CEU credits or simply want to elevate your therapeutic impact, Secrets of Medical Myotherapy(TM) will transform how you work-and how your clients heal.
Necessary Scars
The stories and discussions in the book provide detailed narratives, analyses and reflections on medical errors through actions, omissions and misunderstandings. They offer a unique perspective on the social implications of medical error and enable healthcare workers at all levels to analyse & learn from it.
Decentring Health and Care Networks
Networks have become a prominent template for public service governance. Often seen as an alternative to hierarchies and contracts, networks cross institutionalized organizational or sectoral boundaries to promote collaboration and the sharing of resources when addressing complex problems. Nowhere is this more the case than in the field of health services modernization and improvement. Comprising unique empirical contributions, drawn primarily from the experience of the UK National Health Service (NHS), this edited collection develops a 'decentred' analysis of health and care networks. Contributors look beyond particular structures or patterns of governance and focus instead on the interpretation of the meaningful practices of policy actors as they encounter and enact policy instruments and structures. The approach offers a distinct form of analysis that deepens and enriches more traditional public policy accounts of network governance. It recognizes the influence of local history, highlights the influence of dominant economic, technical and corporate narratives, and acknowledges the continued influence of biomedical knowledge and professional expertise. Offering practical insight for current and future service leaders about the challenges of implementing, managing and working within networks, this book draws out key messages for practitioners and researchers alike.
Health Planning
This book is destined to become a classic in its field. Sidney Sax, Chairman, Ethics Committee, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, former Director of Health Services, Planning and Research, NSW The whys and hows are clearly and carefully explained for everyone involved in planning health services of all sizes in today's demanding climate. No health planner should go to work without this book. Tony Adams, Professor of Public Health, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University Increasing concern about a positive return on investment in health leads to a need to make choices. As a result, skills in planning are increasingly being required of managers, providers and policy makers in health care. Experienced planners and teachers Kathy Eagar, Pamela Garrett and Vivian Lin have written a comprehensive introduction that bridges the theory and practice of health planning. They outline the health policy and planning context, the impact of different resource allocation environments on planning, and explain the processes and the technical skills needed to undertake service, program, corporate, business and facility planning. The authors also explore major challenges facing health planners, including the growing role of market forces in health care, the need to balance equity of access with equity of outcomes, and the tension between planning for population health versus planning for more efficient health care delivery. Illustrated with extensive case studies from both the public and private sectors, Health Planning is an indispensable reference for health professionals and a valuable text for students.
They Call Me Doctor Death
Too often we view death as an enemy to be denied, fought, and defeated, rather than as an inevitable and natural part of life. The medical establishment routinely buys into this view, promoting aggressive treatments by overselling technology and hope, which only prolong needless suffering for terminal patients and their families. But as this candid book shows, we don't have to go down that path.As a long-time palliative and hospice care physician, Dr. Ken Pettit talks openly about a subject few of us want to discuss. His focus is not on prolonging life, but on helping terminal patients die "a good death," with the best possible quality of life up to the end.Based on his work with hundreds of patients and families, as well as the life-altering experience of watching family and friends face death, Dr. Pettit illuminates, in the vivid detail that only an insider can provide, the failings of our medical establishment. He empowers us to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and prepare, with pro-active clarity, for our final days. This book will help all of us-patients, families, and medical professionals-break our collective silence about death, so we can develop better ways of discussing, treating, and encountering what we will all someday face.
Assisted Living Administration and Management Review
"This book is a must-have resource for anyone preparing for RC/AL licensure...The book provides both regulatory and day-to-day operational questions that will allow current and future leaders in long-term care and assisted living to be successful senior leaders in the senior care field." ---Doody's Review Service, 3 stars Contains more than 300 practice questions and answers! Assisted Living Administration and Management Review is the first practical question-based study guide for anyone preparing for certification or licensure exams in residential care and assisted living (RC/AL) administration. Organized according to the original five domains of practice established by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) and used in Assisted Living Administration and Management: Effective Practices and Model Programs in Elder Care, Second Edition, the book reflects the type of questions seen on the state and national exams. Answers and brief rationales have been provided in a final chapter organized according to the five domains of practice or knowledge areas of responsibility - Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, Business and Financial Management, Environmental Management, and Resident Care Management. Written by certified assisted living administrators and licensed health professionals and featuring questions relevant to all state-based exams, this is the authoritative study guide for anyone seeking professional certification/licensure in this growing line of service. The review begins with a comprehensive introduction to the current professional landscape of residential care and assisted living administration in addition to coverage of the different certification and licensure programs available. The following domain-based chapters feature multiple-choice, single-best answer questions, covering all core knowledge areas of responsibility that one is likely to see when taking state or national exams. Containing over 300 practice questions with rationales to encourage self-assessment and further learning, this is a must-have resource for students and professionals seeking RC/AL administrator certification or licensure. Key Features: Over 300 multiple-choice, single-best answer questions with answers and rationales Prepares students to study for Residential Care/Assisted Living (RC/AL) administrator certification and licensure exams administered at the state or national level Organized according to five domains of practice - Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, Business and Financial Management, Environmental Management, and Resident Care Management Written by certified assisted living administrators and licensed health professionals Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers
Arbeidsbok Anatomi for Paramedisin og Paramedic
Arbeidsboken er spesielt skrevet for paramedisin, paramedic, akuttmedisin utenfor sykehus og ambulansearbeider. Boken er tenkt som en supplerende oppgavesamling. Boken inneholder ulike typer oppgaver og 200 illustrasjoner. Til de aller fleste oppgavene i arbeidsboka finnes det en fasit i slutten av hvert enkelt kapittel. Som tilleggsressurs til arbeidsboka finnes en online quiz med mer enn 2000 sp繪rsm疇l p疇 tilh繪rende nettside www.anatomi-fysiologi-paramedisin.no . Her kan du 繪ve p疇 疇 navnsette fleste av figurene som finnes i arbeidsboka. Det er tillatt 疇 bruke bildene i boka i forbindelse med eksamensoppgaver. Forfatter: Jan Porthun og Tonette R繪stelien Innbinding: Heftet Sider: 240 Norsk Mer informasjon: www.ondefo.no
Demystifying Big Data and Machine Learning for Healthcare
Healthcare transformation requires us to continually look at new and better ways to manage insights - both within and outside the organization today. Increasingly, the ability to glean and operationalize new insights efficiently as a byproduct of an organization's day-to-day operations is becoming vital to hospitals and health systems ability to survive and prosper. One of the long-standing challenges in healthcare informatics has been the ability to deal with the sheer variety and volume of disparate healthcare data and the increasing need to derive veracity and value out of it.Demystifying Big Data and Machine Learning for Healthcare investigates how healthcare organizations can leverage this tapestry of big data to discover new business value, use cases, and knowledge as well as how big data can be woven into pre-existing business intelligence and analytics efforts. This book focuses on teaching you how to: Develop skills needed to identify and demolish big-data mythsBecome an expert in separating hype from realityUnderstand the V's that matter in healthcare and whyHarmonize the 4 C's across little and big dataChoose data fi delity over data qualityLearn how to apply the NRF Framework Master applied machine learning for healthcareConduct a guided tour of learning algorithmsRecognize and be prepared for the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare via best practices, feedback loops, and contextually intelligent agents (CIAs)The variety of data in healthcare spans multiple business workflows, formats (structured, un-, and semi-structured), integration at point of care/need, and integration with existing knowledge. In order to deal with these realities, the authors propose new approaches to creating a knowledge-driven learning organization-based on new and existing strategies, methods and technologies. This book will address the long-standing challenges in healthcare informatics and provide pragmatic recommendations on how to deal with them.
Healthcare Workforce Transitioning
Healthcare Workforce Transitioning shares with educators and healthcare professionals alike the awareness, integration, and partnership that results from a successful process of framing a Healthcare Management Program around core competencies. To transition toward a successful healthcare career requires proficiencies in communication, leadership, professionalism, knowledge of the healthcare environment, and business skills. Competencies provide context to curriculum construction and build awareness of the role this standard plays in a career-ready workforce. Integrating professional development and service learning into co-curricular activities further strengthens outcomes. Partnering with healthcare professionals through ongoing World Caf矇 conversations, contributes a touchstone about expectations and accountabilities to be successful in a career.This book draws on the World Caf矇 methodology, guidelines, and vignettes in developing performance assessment, coaching, training, and performance reviews. The author provides lessons learned throughout the text to illustrate the points made in the chapters. It also provides a proven participatory methodology applied to competency exploration, application, and authentication.
Clinical Education in Geriatrics
This book highlights both recent innovations in professional health curricula and continuing education and interventions aimed at improving student attitudes towards geriatrics and aging. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Gerontology & Geriatrics Education journal.
Understanding the Law for Physicians, Healthcare Professionals, and Scientists
Many workers in medicine, healthcare administration, science, and technology, no matter how strong their academic degrees or how distinguished their careers, find themselves baffled, frustrated, and even angered by their encounters with the law. Some of those occasions may lead to the need for a lawyer. But many of the bafflements and frustrations arise from ignorance about what the law is, including how it operates.Over more than a half century of inquiry into the relations between law and science, and through numerous conversations with physicians, scientists, and healthcare professionals whose work rests on technological development, the author realized that they often desire more knowledge about the operations of the law and the legal system. This book seeks to provide basic knowledge about the law in realms where these professionals often encounter it, primarily in areas where activities pose risks of personal injury.This book discusses two basic types of law: civil litigation and other remedies afforded to persons who ascribe injuries to the conduct or product of others, and direct regulation by the government of the levels of safety in those areas. Principal practical applications of this knowledge lie in ways to minimize risk, both in the primary sense and in efforts to avoid litigation over injuries, and in how to present arguments about policy to government officials who write laws and regulations.
Leading the Lean Healthcare Journey
This book reveals and describes the leadership and culture change required to remove waste from healthcare processes and eliminate the root cause of soaring costs, poor quality and safety, and limited access. The book's delivery strategy revolves around personal and organizational stories and case studies told by physician and administrative leaders, all students of the Toyota Production System. This revised edition uniquely blends updated case studies with practical theory to describe how the healthcare value proposition can be changed by reducing waste, variation and complexity in healthcare. New to the book are chapters on clinical standard work and integration of lean and safety.
Transformation and Your New Ehr
Transformation and Your New EHR offers a robust communication and change leadership approach to support electronic health record (EHR) implementations and transformation journeys. This book highlights the approach and philosophy of communication, change leadership, and systems and process design, giving readers a practical view into the successes and failures that can be experienced throughout the evolution of an EHR implementation.
Nutrition Support for the Critically Ill Patient
This new edition is designed for health practitioners, clinicians, and dietitians in any critical care setting. It provides comprehensive information on nutritional support and therapy for the critically ill patient. Chapters are divided into eight sections covering metabolic issues, nutrients for critically ill patients, delivery of nutrition t
The Cyber Patient
With the use of electronic health records (EHR) transforming the healthcare industry, the use of information technology in the maintenance of personal health records poses a range of issues and opportunities for every medical organization, The Cyber Patient expertly walks readers through the elements required for an efficient, well-run healthcare record management system, while reflecting the U.S. government's goal of achieving widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare while maintaining the levels of security and privacy that consumers expect. The author also provides an update as to where the industry stands in their push of interoperability and the increased use of data as an analytic tools.Providing an application readers can adopt as a model, this important book examines the infrastructure of electronic health records and how government criteria have impacted and will continue to impact both private and public marketplaces. This valuable resource also addresses how auditors, controllers, and healthcare providers can keep up with the market's continued move towards an interoperable e-health world, without neglecting clinical and financial accountability in the delivery of healthcare.As e-health continues to develop and transform, The Cyber Patient thoughtfully prepares professionals to plan and implement an effective EHR as wel as internal controls system within any clinical setting.
Healthcare Value Proposition
Never before in the healthcare industry has there been such intense emphasis and open debate on the issue of quality. The steady rise in the cost of healthcare coupled with the need for quality have combined to put the healthcare industry at the top of the national agenda. Quality, costs, and service are not just socially provocative ideas. They are critical criteria for decision-making by patients, physicians, and many key constituents of healthcare organizations.The pursuit of improved performance has driven a host of executives and managers in search of techniques for structuring, rehabilitating, redesigning, and reengineering the organizations they serve. Unfortunately, the narrow-mindedness with which programs are implemented and the discontinuity in their application weaken the promise of success. The process of quality improvement can become an undisciplined search for illusions rather than reality.For many years, healthcare managers have embraced the narrow definition of performance solely in the context of financial success. Forward-thinking executives now realize that the road to financial success begins with success in quality and service. Quality and service are no longer separate issues - they are the same. Neither one by itself will bring about lasting success. The ultimate measure of performance is in an organization's ability to create value for its customers, and true performance must be measured in the context of the customers' total experience.This book is about how to manage performance in the context of value to the customer or patient. It brings together the many pieces of the performance improvement puzzle - quality, technology, costs, productivity, and customer service. The author also covers process improvement tools including Lean and Six Sigma, and how to create a culture of continuous improvement as well as how to improve the patient experience and productivity improvement strategies. The book is filled with examples, illustrations, and tools for improving key aspects of a healthcare organization's performance.
Information Privacy in the Evolving Healthcare Environment
Advances in health information technology (health IT) have the potential to improve the quality of healthcare, to increase the availability of health information for treatment, and to implement safeguards that cannot be applied easily or cost-effectively to paper-based health records. However, the digitization of health information is also raising new privacy risks and concerns. Sensitive health information in digital form is more easily aggregated, used, and shared. In addition, the rising cost of healthcare and the search for efficiency may create incentives to use the information in new ways. Research has consistently shown that while the public sees the potential value of health information exchange and technological advancements, it remains gravely concerned about the privacy of their sensitive health information. As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that ensuring public trust will be critical to the successful implementation of nationwide health information exchange. The purpose of this second edition is two-fold: 1) to educate readers about privacy concepts and 2) highlight key privacy issues facing the nation and the healthcare community as it moves towards electronic health records and health information exchange. The first three chapters are descriptive in nature, defining privacy and distinguishing it from security, defining the complex legal landscape for health information privacy, and setting the stage for the following chapters by describing the current landscape of the evolving healthcare environment. The following chapters discuss specific privacy issues and challenges in detail. The book concludes with a chapter providing a view to the future of healthcare and the association privacy implications. This is an updated version of one of HIMSS' best-selling books on information privacy.
Rethinking Social Work Practice with Multicultural Communities
With research showing that clients from diverse racial and ethnic groups disproportionately experience barriers in their interactions with social services and that providers recognize the need to be better prepared to work with these groups, this book invites us to rethink current approaches to social work practice with multicultural communities.We begin with a synthesis of the current evidence on the provision of care to multicultural communities that provides an in-depth look at both client and provider experiences. The following chapters offer tangible, research-based approaches to engaging with multicultural clients and reveal often unrecognized problems with current models of social work practice. A unique compilation of rigorous qualitative, experimental, and community-based studies demonstrate the effectiveness of culturally grounded interventions and identify the specific factors associated with positive outcomes. Areas covered include disability, marriage and couple relationship problems, domestic violence, and mental illness within Latinx, African American, First Nations, and South Asian communities. As the authors in this book show, the stories of multicultural communities are narratives of unprecedented resourcefulness and reinvention. Yet, social work underutilizes rich family and community cultural resources. By not facilitating their involvement, social service systems compromise these vital resources which social services cannot replace.In arguing that we need to expand professional boundaries to encompass indigenous practices, family and extended kin, and therapeutic relationships that make sense to different cultural groups, this book will be of interest to those studying the ways in which social work practice can be improved to better suit the needs of a racially and ethnically diverse population.This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work.
Lean Systems
This book provides an in-depth description of the various Lean techniques and numerous real-world Lean projects from a wide variety of manufacturing, healthcare, and service processes, demonstrating how to apply the Lean philosophy.
Self-Direction in Long Term Services and Supports
Ten years after the results of the Cash and Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation were released, this book assesses the impact of this study, which developed individualized plans for helping people with disabilities to stay independent in the community. The study was the first wide-scale test of people with disabilities managing their own budgets and results from the random-controlled trial demonstrated significant positive outcomes, encouraging the US federal and state governments to provide this option as part of their community-based care programs. This volume looks at what people with disabilities and their caregivers are saying about this option ten years removed from the study, and what the latest research shows in terms of what it will take to improve this approach, making the option available for all people with disabilities. The contributions also discuss what needs remain unmet even when people can manage their own budgets, and present participants' and their family caregivers' views on what support broker activities really help (or hurt). Finally, the book summarizes the results of a project involving the Council of Social Work Education and nine schools of social work to develop modules to train future social workers on person-centred planning and participant direction.Of interest to those researchers studying social care with a focus on disabilities, this book would also be of use to those training social workers and support staff. The chapters in this book were originally published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work and Home Health Care Services Quarterly.
Finding What Matters Most to Patients
Research shows that the importance of patient-reported outcomes, improved decision support, and care coordination is growing rapidly as new payment models transform healthcare delivery. This has led to the use of new measures and communication techniques, including shared decision-making and motivational interviewing.Using patient-reported outcomes at the point of service helps providers identify what matters most to the patient in front of them now. Describing treatment options and deciphering a patient's preferences effectively is a process, which has been likened to arriving at a diagnosis. Providers make a medical diagnosis by discerning a patient's primary complaints, past history, exam findings, and test results. A preference diagnosis can be thought of similarly. Providers work with their patients to identify what matters most to them, discuss the risks and benefits of the available treatment options, and support the patient as needed through the decision-making process. Once informed of their options, patients frequently chose treatments that require modifying their habits. Motivational interviewing helps patients and providers understand what matters most now and design care plans that provide appropriate support. While many healthcare providers and leaders may be familiar with patient-reported outcomes from research articles, and have heard of shared decision-making and motivational interviewing, few have experience using them. Fewer still understand how each relates to the other. This book helps leaders and healthcare providers better understand how to use patient-reported data to their advantage at the point of service. The book provides the background for developing shared knowledge and shared language, along with extensive examples of dialogue between providers and patients. In addition, the book contains personal interviews of subject matter experts who have significant experience using these measures. The result is a comprehensive understanding of how these measures and techniques can help providers, organizations, and patients navigate this modern healthcare management opportunity.
Hit or Miss, 3rd Edition
This third edition presents and dissects a wide variety of HIT failures so that the reader can understand in each case what went wrong and why and how to avoid such problems, without focusing on the involvement of specific people, organizations, or vendors. The lessons may be applied to future and existing projects, or used to understand why a previous project failed. The reader also learns how common causes of failure affect different kinds of HIT projects and with different results.Cases are organized by the type of focus (hospital care, ambulatory care, and community). Each case provides analysis by an author who was involved in the project plus the insight of an HIT expert. This book presents a model to discuss HIT failures in a safe and protected manner, providing an opportunity to focus on the lessons offered by a failed initiative as opposed to worrying about potential retribution for exposing a project as having failed. Access expert insight into key obstacles that must be overcome to leverage IT and transform healthcare.Each de-identified case study includes an analysis by a group of industry experts along with a counter analysis. Cases include a list of key words and are categorized by project (e.g. CPOE, business intelligence). Each case study concludes with a lesson learned section. Thought provoking commentary chapters add additional context to the challenges faced during HIT projects, from social and organizational to legal and contractual.
Blockchain in Healthcare
Blockchain technology is poised to revolutionize more than just payment and crypto-currency. Many vertical industries will be reshaped by the new trusted data models enabled and inspired by the blockchain - healthcare is no exception. In fact, healthcare may hold the greatest opportunities for meaningful use of the technology. Early pioneers have explored some of the first use cases for medical payments, electronic health records, HIPAA/data privacy, drug counterfeiting, and credentialing of healthcare professionals. We have only begun to scratch the surface in how to automate the complexities of today's healthcare systems and design new systems which focus on trust, transparency and the alignment of incentives.Metcalf, Bass, Dhillon, and Hooper have curated a collection of examples based on the fundamentals of blockchain that build upon the early successes and examples that point to the future. After a brief introduction to bitcoin, blockchain and the protocols available, a getting-started guide is presented specific to health and healthcare. The authors discuss the complexities and possibilities of smart contracts and some of the early consortia that are exploring the possibilities. Examples and use cases are found throughout the book, with specific sections that cover the more sophisticated and far-reaching examples which have the potential to scale at the industry-level. In addition, a discussion of integrating blockchain technology into other advanced healthcare trends and IT systems - such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, value-based payments, patient engagement solutions, big data solutions, medical tourism, and precision medicine/genetic therapies among many others are presented. The final section provides a glimpse into the future using blockchain technology and examples of research projects that are still in labs across the globe. The appendices may prove particularly useful for additional details on how to get started, including resources and organizations specifically focusing on blockchain and distributed ledger solutions.
The Dental Team in the European Union
This book discusses dental healthcare professionals in the European Union and EU policy output and activities in the context of Europeanization and its impact on oral health care. Adopting a framework focused on an institution and its policies allows for discussion from the perspective of multiple actors, both national and international. The research is timely and significant because of the momentous changes that have taken and are taking place in healthcare delivery systems and professions in the Member States of the European Union.In the book, the author constructs a profile of the oral healthcare professions in the Member States; creates an inventory of challenges faced by these professions; illustrates the impact Europeanization and one of its organs, the European Union, have had on oral health care; demonstrates the way in which national traits and institutions exercise a role in the transposition of EU outputs; and catalogues the stages and views ofsome representatives of the dental team. Topics explored include: The First Stage of Professionalization: EducationDental Care Professionals: RegulationMember States: Healthcare ProvisionThe WorkplaceThe European Union and the Dental TeamReaders not only learn the fundamentals of oral health professions, their realities, and healthcare delivery, but also become familiar with the political concepts, institutions, and practice related to the field.The Dental Team in the European Union, having academic and general interest as well as practical value, appeals to diverse audiences. The book is an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners in the social sciences and the healthcare and dental worlds. It also can be used as required or supplemental reading for students in the healthcare professions, public policy, and political science. Decision-makers at various levels of government and persons affiliated with funding agencies as well as scholarly and professional associations in the United States and abroad also would find this a useful text.
Transitions and Boundaries in the Coordination and Reform of Health Services
Health systems worldwide are grappling with the challenge of coordinating difference in an increasingly complex care environment. In response this book features the latest research on organizational studies in healthcare and explores the relationship between strategic and organic change and what this means for the way we organize health work. Focusing on the complexity of healthcare environments, it discusses the need to cross professional and organizational boundaries. Specifically, this book focuses on the implications for health systems in the way that they continue to balance planning and intervention with organic learning systems. Comprising the best contributions from the 2018 Conference on Organizational Behaviour in Health Care (OBHC), this book is an important resource for healthcare researchers, as well as policy-makers and managers within the industry. Contributors explore the extent to which healthcare is codified through empirical analysis of practical interventions and conceptual debate.
Health Management 2.0
From precision medicine to pandemics, from value-based healthcare to stakeholder engagement, European health systems are facing unprecedented change. How can health managers cope with these challenges and what skills and competencies will they need to deliver transformational change in the 'new normality'? This original volume presents a blueprint for Health Management 2.0 and helps set a path for long-term health system sustainability. Along with a comparative European framework to illustrate current developments in health management, the authors also highlight five key change drivers: integration; personalization; empowerment; digitalization; and life sciences, and examine how each is enabling the development of health systems that are fundamentally different from those of today. With fresh insights for managers, educators, researchers and policy makers, Health Management 2.0 promotes a modern interdisciplinary and dynamic approach to health leadership and management - one that focuses on skills and competencies - and outlines international best practice for future teaching and training.
Jungian Psychotherapy with Medical Professionals
Jungian Psychotherapy with Medical Professionals guides therapists, clinicians, and healthcare workers through the transformative healing process of Jungian psychology, demonstrating how the new spirit of medicine will originate from the relationship between the healer and the healed. Through extensive experience and scientific research gathered over the past four decades working closely with physicians, Suzanne Hales presents the telling of their stories that have been historically hushed or hidden away. Hales offers a lifeline for healthcare workers as she weaves together the stories of physicians and their patients with gripping honesty, presenting an intimate glimpse of what happens in the lives of healers and the healed. The book offers support to the healer in need of healing, provides hope for wholeness and restoration, and advocates for those who spend their lifetime advocating for others. The book is of great interest to Jungian analysts, therapists, and trainees, and it is essential reading for anyone working in healthcare, including physicians and healers of all kinds in the landscape of modern medicine.
Leaping the Hurdles
Are you an International Medical Graduate and want to practise medicine in Australia? It is a complicated pathway to getting a job. There are many challenges to overcome.Dr Issam Muteir is a general physician and cardiologist from Iraq who has firsthand experience negotiating the Australian Healthcare system as anoverseas doctor.In Leaping the Hurdles, Dr Muteir guides International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to navigate their own way through this new environment.Leaping the Hurdles covers a range of topics from applying and interviewing for jobs, communication and working as part of a multi disciplinary team, legal and ethical issues, different pathways for practice and cultural differences in Australian society. Of course, the Australian Football Leagueand Aussie Barbeques are included.Dr Muteir also includes examples of his own experience and that of other IMGs, as well as offering simple tips that make a big difference.Written in an accessible and easy-to-read manner, Leaping the Hurdles will help IMGs to navigate their way through the Australian Health system much quicker and easier than they would without it.As many hurdles as there are to overcome, Dr Muteir encourages all graduates not to give up on their dream of working in Australia.
HIV & AIDS And The Older Adult
The incidence of HIV/AIDS in society has reached epidemic levels. People of all ages are contracting the disease, and with the advances in medication and treatment, those with the disease are living longer. This book discusses the unique issues facing older adults with HIV/AIDS and addresses living with the disease.
Healthcare Management
Basic Ideas of Managed Care.- Managed Care Organisations and Products.- Managed Care Instruments.- Evaluation of Managed Care. ​
Understanding Clinical Negotiation
A Doody's 5-Star Review! Achieve optimal patient outcomes and build positive health care relationships with this timely and essential guide Patient relations, satisfaction, and engagement are more important than ever. Many patients today research their conditions online, and are the targets of marketing campaigns by hospitals, medical device manufacturers, and the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, some will bring a consumer mindset to the exam room and even demand tests and treatments that are of questionable value. This new health care landscape makes the ability to clinically negotiate with patients an increasingly important skill. Understanding Clinical Negotiation helps clinicians navigate patient desires toward mutually defined goals. The first guide of its kind, this important resource will equip clinicians with the insights and pragmatic skills needed to strike the right balance between care and costs, while ensuring the satisfaction and safety of every patient. Understanding Clinical Negotiation features: Real-world vignettes incorporating scenarios encountered in research and practiceClinical pearls and summary bullet points for each chapterActionable lessons that can be applied immediately in practiceDeeper Dive sidebars with additional insights and informationStrategies for fostering patients' full disclosure of relevant informationMethods for raising awareness of and managing emotions in clinical careBest practices for collaborative decision-making in diverse populations
A Nurse’s Legacy
Born to a teacher and a domestic worker, Nomathemba's story is what happens when career collides with calling. In this eloquently written autobiography, Noma documents a life well lived-from a tiny premature baby, who's parents did not see surviving beyond two weeks, to a vibrant, strong woman who has now travelled the globe because of her nursing profession.Take the journey with her as she shares the work experiences and adventures she has had across the world. From her first night in Liverpool UK, where freezing temperatures kept her awake, to an upset stomach in Accra, Ghana, where she learnt the healing power of the paw paw fruit.If you are pursuing a career in nursing, this story will open your eyes to all the possibilities this vocation can lead to. You will be inspired to reach for your dreams and build your own legacy.As you will come to understand, Nomathemba's Legacy is one of courage amid fear, perseverance in the face of impossibility and hope even in the midst of despair.About the Author: Nomathemba Mazaleni is a qualified nurse, midwife, community health nurse, nurse educator and nurse administrator. Her experience has earned her a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Africa and a Masters Degree from the University of Liverpool in the UK.She has worked in the health sector for more than 40 years, with experience in Public Health, Health Information System, Community Based Education for Health Personnel and HIV/ AIDS. Her extensive world travels in Asia, Europe, USA and other parts of Africa have made her the skilled professional she is. As a health manager, leader, experienced monitoring, and evaluation practitioner, she is passionate about teaching, mentoring, supporting, and advancing the course of nurses and those who may want to follow in her footsteps.Now in her late 60s, Nomathemba does not consider herself as Retired-only Rewired as she still works a full-time job. When not consulting professionally, she delights in being a mother and a grandmother to three lovely boys, who are the inspiration of her legacy and heritage.
Chasing Life
In Chasing Life, Robert Pardi takes us on an unforgettable journey through his life with Desiree, his spirited, brilliant wife, whose diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer transformed their relationship and reshaped his perspective on love, life, and loss. This memoir is more than a story about illness; it's about the power of love that defies the odds, courage that grows in the darkest places, and the life lessons learned in the shadow of terminal illness. Desiree, a dedicated palliative care physician, faced her own illness with the same tenacity she brought to helping her patients, determined to make every moment count. Through this heart-wrenching and inspiring story, Robert shares memories of laughter, strength, and unbreakable bonds, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and relationships. Chasing Life is for anyone seeking a story of resilience and passion, and for those who want to believe that love can indeed transform even the most painful moments. This is a story of the evolution of one person and the awakening of another. It highlights the need to live life in the present moment. It's about learning to savor life while we are alive. Wherever you are in life, Chasing Life is a book that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. Excerpted from the foreword by Suzanne Rose, MD, MSEd, Senior Vice Dean for Medical Education, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania"You are about to read a love story, a story of triumph, a story of drive, passion, compassion and about a courageous fight in the face of adversity. I came to know Dr. Desiree Pardi as someone who was always chasing her dream; she did not just pursue the dream in order to catch up; she caught up with her dream, outsmarted that dream and pursued another, and another, and another. Chasing Life is the perfect title for this labor of love, a portrait of an incredible young woman pursuing her passion, surpassing every expectation and then moving forward again until she could go no further because of a devastating and aggressive disease." Praise for Chasing Life "Cancer and death have a unique way of getting our attention. As a hospice physician, many of my patients used to tell me they became 'alive' only after facing cancer and death ... and some regretted all of the years and decades they spent 'sleep-walking.' Desiree and Rob in this book share what it means to be live fully aware, awake, and alive. If you want to live an abundant life - one that is fully woke - this book will grab, surprise, inspire, break, and renew you because everything you heard before is probably wrong. The abundant life is not about fame, money, and personal success." - James A. Avery, MD, Visiting Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia "Chasing Life is a love story, an ode to a brilliant doctor whose own illness shaped a legacy of patient care that I have surely benefited from in my own cancer journey. This memoir proves that luck goes beyond issues of mortality - that the greater gift is to be lucky in love." - Leslie Lehr, Author of A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me...and You. "Chasing Life is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about two amazing individuals, Desiree and Rob, who shared the passion for life through transformative love and angelic compassion in the face of horrendous circumstances. Undaunted in her dedication to care for the suffering, while going through 11 years of her own recurring and worsening cancer, Desiree gave the full energy of her heart and soul to helping people with advanced illness. As a physician, she was an early champion of palliative care, and was able to help so many people through the most difficult times of their lives. All the while, Rob's inspirational, relentless support and devotion were a testament to the meaning of genuine love." - Csaba Mera, MD.
The Handbook for Credentialing Healthcare Providers
This handbook enables your organization to systemize the tedious, ongoing, and mandatory process of credentialing your medical staff and to understand why you must!Healthcare organizations must have credentialed medical staffs to deliver their services. The reasons are two-fold: First, educated, licensed, experienced, and proven caregivers ensure that a hospital or medical practice is capable of delivering quality care. Secondly, payers require that the physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals are qualified and licensed to work with their patients. Before receiving payment for services, the provider must have specific credentials for providing that service.Verifying and documenting the credentials of a healthcare provider is tedious, ongoing, and mandatory. An organization with a large medical staff may struggle with keeping the credentialing function current, as many licenses have rolling expirations.Credentialing ensures that clinical practitioners are duly qualified, licensed, and board certified. It reports the history of malpractice claims, state-instituted sanctions, or other undesirable professional circumstances of providers.Credentialing and privileging of healthcare professionals protects patients and hospitals by minimizing the risk of medical errors that may result from the work of incompetent providers. It also undergirds the reputation and credibility of the institution in the eyes of providers and across the healthcare community.Further, credentialing with insurers forms the basis for reimbursement for professional services. Without the acceptance of the professional credentials of a provider, insurers and other third-party payers will not compensate his or her claims.The purpose of this book is to explain the necessity and to provide the process for the official documentation of each practitioner. The information presented in these chapters will serve as a practical resource for strengthening your organization's credentialing function.=Book Features! -Outlines the necessity for credentialing in the delivery of care and in attaining reimbursements for services provided -Explores options for in-house and outsourced credentialing function -Provides systematic process for ongoing credentialing operations
Critical Care Psychology and Rehabilitation
The primary focus of critical care is doing everything necessary to save lives. With so many things to manage, it comes as no surprise that the complex, multi-layered issues faced by critical illness survivors cannot be managed by intensive care specialists alone. Critical Care Psychology and Rehabilitation provides insight into holistic care of survivors. Written by leading experts, the book builds upon current literature and illustrates the benefits of integrating psychological and rehabilitation techniques throughout the care continuum. Chapters include summaries of treatment techniques, developments in intensive care settings, support and training for staff, and opportunities for further research. Although all chapters are relevant to contemporary psychology practice, the book is written in a style that is accessible to a wide audience of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals. Critical Care Psychology and Rehabilitation offers tools to improve the quality of intensive and post intensive care, with positive outcomes for patients, families, and caregivers.
Resetting Healthcare Post-COVID-19 Pandemic
The pandemic reset how doctors practice and how patients receive care--there's no returning to the pre-coronavirus status quo. With so much uncertainty surrounding our healthcare, Resetting Healthcare Post-COVID-19 Pandemic is your essential guide. In his book, Dr. Sanjay Prasad explains how SurgiQuality uses breakthrough technology to provide patients unprecedented transparency, quality, cost control, and expertise. When you're in need of an elective procedure, SurgiQuality provides you expert recommendations, full cost comparisons, and, most important, a ranking of surgeons based on past outcomes. The coronavirus has destabilized the entire healthcare system, resulting in higher costs and more complexity for everyone. We can no longer afford to blindly follow the recommendations of doctors or friends, advertisements, or online ratings to make what are often the most important decisions in our lives. Like never before, SurgiQuality empowers patients with objective, easy-to-understand information. Resetting Healthcare Post-COVID-19 Pandemic is your must-have guide to medical care in a post-pandemic world.
Time to Sell?
Best-Selling book for physicians, now in its 3rd edition, helps doctors make the best deals.Physicians are finding themselves in the position of selling their practices. But selling isn't always a slam-dunk solution. In fact, physicians may find that the same problems that prompted them to sell their practice - re-igniting income and visits, regulatory headaches, & long hours - continue to frustrate them but potentially now as a hospital employee.The trouble is, few physicians have the business, legal, and accounting background needed to assess their situation and - if selling is the right choice - to find the right hospital partner and structure a realistic deal that rewards them with the income, freedom and peace of mind they're seeking. That's why so many physicians who sell end up dissatisfied.In this new and expanded edition of Time to Sell?, veteran practice consultant Randy Bauman helps physicians and practice administrators examine their own selling scenario-from how much the practice is worth to the operational, deal-making, and legal issues that would shape the sale. He helps physicians find the right answers and make the best deals. Should the time not be right for a sale, Bauman also explores alternative options for not selling, including ways to make the existing practice more profitable, efficient, and satisfying.NEW FEATURES FOR THE THIRD EDITIONBauman's new guide bridges this gap for physicians, giving them practical tools for finding the right fit - both personally and financially.For example, Time to Sell? helps physicians understand why some physicians groups to command surprisingly high rates - and then use those insights into everything from "curb appeal" to revenue streams as the basis for developing their own pricing strategy. It also helps them recognize when selling the practice isn't going to be the right fit. Instead, Bauman offers a variety of options physicians can use immediately to improve the financial rewards and personal satisfaction they enjoy in their existing practice.If selling to a hospital is the right decision, Time to Sell? Guide to Selling a Physician Practice walks physicians through each step. A particular strength of the book is Bauman's ability to simplify not only the process, but the legal and financial considerations along the way.
Physician: Time to Invest in Yourself!
Do you feel as if you race from patient to patient and procedure to procedure without time to pause and reflect? Do you feel that you are melting down both physically and emotionally? Do you feel ill-equipped to give the best patient care if you're not healthy yourself? Are you concerned that patients continue to succumb to preventable chronic diseases despite trying to educate for healthy lifestyles? Do you feel as though your patients' care is becoming so fragmented that something important might get missed? And you might be held accountable? If so, this book is the ideal resource to help you turn things around.Via this new book, it is possible to meet your life goals through a series of simple yet powerful steps that can change how you view your job and your life. Unprecedented challenges beleaguer the practice of medicine, including disparities among legitimate patient needs, the resources to meet these needs, market forces transforming healthcare, and the physician's need to understand how to confront these challenges. By reading this book you gain: the wisdom and tools to confront the challenges of a medical career and the struggle to maintain the primacy of the doctor-patient relationship Practical techniques to sustain your body, mind and spirit no-nonsense risk management strategies and the increasing risk of allegations of negligence strategies to meet the daily demands of your challenging medical career We believe the book has the potential to transform the reader's personal and professional life. Designed for practicing physicians and those in training, (and available in print and convenient eBook, ) the frank dialog between the authors, Dr. Tim Paterick and Dr. Ngo is like eavesdropping on their conversation about practice and life balance! You'll appreciate the sense of community here; knowing you are not alone will boost your confidence and give you actionable strategies for your work and your life.
Operation Five-Star
You must increase the level of customer service in your medical practice, but where to start?In the past, Five-Star Service was perhaps one of the most underestimated concepts in the healthcare industry. Not anymore. Five-Star customer service is something we all demand in our everyday lives--in our homes, businesses, and personal lives--and now it is becoming one of the cornerstones of healthcare delivery.But in your healthcare practice, you can launch your own "Operation Five-Star" with this new book, by best-selling authors James Saxton and Maggie Finkelstein. Combining the "why should we focus on this?" with the commonsense "how to do it," you'll find real-world cases that show how practices and hospitals have succeeded with Operation Five-Star. The book provides practical information and tools to build service excellence in the health care setting, and simultaneously help healthcare providers to mitigate liability risk.Must read sections include post-adverse event communication and disclosure, how to appreciate cultural differences in your patientpopulation, and how to engage staff in enhancing internal and external Five-Star service, consistently and pervasively.The post-ACA environment focus on quality of care and efficiencies, tied to reimbursement, means the Five-Star service concept for physicians and other healthcare providers now takes on great significance. With this book, in convenient print or eBook, James Saxton and Maggie Finkelstein describe proven techniques to seize control in the practice and create the best possible experience for patients.The book is directed to physicians, hospital risk managers, physician practice office administrators and managers, patient experience leaders and officers, hospitals, medical societies, hospital associations, and medical professional liability insurers.What you'll get with Operation Five-Star: -An affordable way to jump-start your service excellence program-Carefully designed and an easy-read; not time consuming-A pathway for incorporating a five-star service culture in the medical practice-Provides practical tips that can be used immediately-Highlights real-life scenarios in various healthcare settings
Integrating Behavioral Health Into the Medical Home
Integrating Behavioral Health into The Medical Home: A Rapid Implementation GuideIntegrating Behavioral Health into the Medical Home: A Rapid Implementation Guide offers up- to-the-minute guidance on how to integrate behavioral health (BH) into primary care in a manner which is legal, profitable, clinically effective, time-efficient, and reflective of best practices.A one-of-a-kind practical resource not available anywhere else, the distinguished authors present the facts here to help you make rapid and accurate decisions while integrating for the first time or improving your current integrated BH program. The book is geared toward practice leaders or anyone responsible for launching and overseeing a BH service.Topics Include Why? Understand how healthcare delivery and population management must incorporate behavioral health, especially in the medical home Which service delivery model is the right fit for your organization? And how to roll-out a program system-wide Learn how to leverage integrated behavioral health services in the medical home to help you achieve the Triple Aim How to develop and organize your team and get buy-in from all stakeholders Personnel selection and training all staff to deliver team-based success How to shoot past business competitors who do not have these programs Sample business tools: policy samples; templates for business case analyses; surveys for your medical staff; sample pro formas, funding and program evaluation tools, and much more... Insider Tips: A step-by-step guide to achieve the ROI (Return on Investment) desired Clear Do's and Don'ts to improve financial and clinical outcomes Best Practices: Case Examples of outcomes and cost savings How to make these programs worth developing and sustaining... clinically and financially
Flatlining
How Healthcare Could Crash the Economy - And How We Can Stop ItThe health care system is an industry that will personally touch all of us at some point in our lives. But as it consumes an ever-larger share of the US economy, it also threatens our financial well-being. Especially as a new administration moves to "repeal or replace" or "fix" the Affordable Care Act, now is the time to gain a deeper understanding of the health industry.That's the subject of this new book by Ron Howrigon, President and CEO of Fulcrum Strategies. "Health care is the largest single segment of our economy and it is quickly spiraling out of control," the author comments. "This book can give readers and understanding of the health care industry, why it's in trouble--and what needs to happen to fix it."This book presents a concise, comprehensible overview of the critical issues and challenges facing the economics of health care. Readers will learn about: The unsustainable rate of inflation in the cost of health care--and the "market adjustment" that could send the US economy into a tailspin. The three economic factors that explain why health care costs keep rising, and the changes necessary to reverse that trend. The Affordable Care Act, six years on--its unanticipated effects on the health care system, and why the exchanges are at risk of failing. How "Repeal and Replace" could set the stage for a meltdown of the US healthcare system. The prescription for the cure--seven areas where decisive action is needed to create a more sustainable model for health care. "The US health care system is a product of who we are and what we are as a country," Ron Howrigon writes. FLATLINING: HOW HEALTH CARE COULD KILL THE US ECONOMY offers a cleared-eyed look at how health care system got to where it is today, and the critical decisions that will be needed to ensure its sustainability in the future.
