Introduction to Health Services

The seventh edition of Introduction to Health Services builds upon its reputation as a classic book written by nationally recognized authors. This new edition addresses the increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of the nation's health care system and to provide an adequate level of health care for all Americans. The seventh edition reflects the revolutionary changes in the practice of clinical medicine, government policy, information technology, and health care cost containment. In-depth information in the areas of health care finance, health care access, managed care, and insurance and home health is also provided. Research and statistics throughout make this book the premier reference for understanding all the services that compose the health care landscape.

This book contains black-and-white illustrations.

Previous editions are cited in Books for College Libraries, 3d ed. Providing an overview of the health services system, this textbook discusses the structure of the health care system, its financing, the providers of health care, and the non-financial resources of health care. The assessment and regulation of the industry are also discussed. Williams teaches public health at San Diego State University. Torrens teaches public health at the University of California, Los Angeles. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Bernard J. Turnock

This is the fourth edition of a general textbook and reference that presents and examines various aspects of health services within the U.S. health care system. Multiple authors have collaborated in putting this text together, representing public, private, and academic viewpoints. This book is designed as a basic text for students in health services and health administration, and it would be useful for many different types of health professionals. In capturing the scope of health services, as well as the trends and current issues, this text is generally successful in serving its purpose. The various authors address their specific topics clearly, with adequate attention to both what happened and why. Students are the primary audience, but as a general reference work, this book would be useful to anyone not familiar with some of the lesser known aspects of the U.S. health system. That group includes many already working in the field. The authors are excellent authorities and quite credible in their areas of expertise. Illustrations and graphics are at a minimum, making this a rather dry traditional textbook at times. The index and table of content are both informative and quite complete. References are very much up-to-date, even in some of the fastest changing components of the health service system. The general appearance inside and out is adequate though certainly not eye-catching. Even though there are several contributors to this book, this is a particularly well presented general text on health services in the U.S. today. Issues, trends, and their implications are nicely handled throughout. This book should become widely used in various health administration courses and as a generalreference on this complex subject. The current edition helps capture developments since the previous edition, but health reform activities may move even more quickly in the near future, perhaps necessi tating a sooner-than-anticipated next edition.

Stephen Williams is the series editor for our Health Services Administration list. He is also a Professor of Public Health and head of the Division of Health Services Administration in the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University in Dan Diego, California.

Dr. Paul Torrens is Professor of Health Services at the UCLA School of Public Health in Los Angeles