| Summary: | The World Health Organization's (WHO) constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health" (World Health Organization, Constitution of the World Health Organization (PDF), p.1. Accessed 11 November 2013), which includes directing authorities in health policy and work, supplying technical assistance to governments on request during emergencies, and coordinating with the United Nations, governmental health administrations, specialized agencies, and professional groups for effective collaboration. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a significant component of the healthcare industry in the country comprises establishments with physicians and other medical staff engaged primarily in providing a range of outpatient medical services to health maintenance organization (HMO) subscribers, with focus on primary health care. These establishments are owned by the HMO. Included in this industry are HMOs that both provide healthcare services and underwrite health and medical insurance policies (NCAIS code 621491 refers to HMO medical centers). Health practitioners or health practitioner groups contracting to provide services to subscribers of prepaid health plans are classified under Industry 62111, Offices of Physicians; Industry 621210, Offices of Dentists; and Industry Group 6213, Offices of Other Health Practitioners. HMOs (except those providing healthcare services) engaged primarily in underwriting and administering health and medical insurance policies are classified under Industry 524114, Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers. What will not be discussed in this book are other healthcare approaches, including commercial, welfare, patient, Medicare, employer-direct contracting, and privately paid (i.e., cash-based traditional, chiropractic, naturopathic, etc.) Health care is traditionally viewed as a science profession, with a public service focus, it now includes major partnering organizations, including the insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry, academic research centers, various specialization groups, laboratory agencies, social workers, and supermarket chains. Hospitals exist in many organizational forms and structures-- sole-proprietary clinics, government-funded hospitals, franchised groups, and hybrids that offer both publicly and privately funded services. Over the last two decades, there are increased offerings of Masters in Health Care Administration degrees offered in various shades and depths by higher educational institutions. Yet, it is difficult to find one text that serves as a central platform for any instructor to build a course upon. Most of the course materials of such a graduate degree come from a variety of reading materials determined by the teaching instructors' expertise and resources. This book is intended for middle- and upper-level managers in healthcare organizations who have no or little clinical training background. Students of healthcare administration and those who would like to enter the field may find it useful
|
|---|