The United States Healthcare System: Overview, Driving Forces, and Outlook for the Future

The complexity of the United States healthcare system is well known, as are its challenges and shortcomings. A vital task in the years ahead will be to transition the system toward a new paradigm - one that more effectively balances quality, costs, and access to support the overall well-being of the American people. The United States Healthcare System:: Overview, Driving Forces, and Outlook for the Future is intended for the healthcare professionals who will lead the transformation to optimized health and healthcare solutions. The book presents a broad overview of the system's numerous components, assesses the historical influences that brought us to our present state, and examines the trends and emerging opportunities through which we can attain a better future. Over the course of 14 chapters, the book examines such topics as the following:: The system's origins and development The nature of health and well-being Categories of health services delivery The roles of organizations and providers Financing mechanisms, past and present Comparisons with other countries Quality and safety improvement The impact of technology The politicization of healthcare Ongoing reform efforts The book's chapters establish a firm knowledge base for each topic while also inviting deeper discussion and further exploration. Collectively, they aim to foster a thorough, multidimensional understanding of how the healthcare system functions, how it has evolved, and how it can be improved.