Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System, 6th Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781284235104 ISBN-10: 1284235106 Copyright: 2023 Edition: 6th Author: Shi, Leiyu, Singh, Douglas A., Doody's Expert Review    Score: 98 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Janice Phillips,  PhD  (Rush University Medical Center) Description The U.S. healthcare system is complex and ever-changing, making it difficult to understand the intricacies of healthcare delivery. Given the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, this book does an excellent job of distilling a large amount of information into a user-friendly format. Understanding these complexities can be daunting and requires ongoing education and analysis. This sixth edition is a needed update to the literature since health care has evolved since the publication of the fifth edition in 2018. Purpose The purpose of this book is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the healthcare delivery system in the U.S. using simplified terminology. Using a systems model approach, the authors take key information from their standard text, Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach, 8th Edition (Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2021), to prepare information that may be daunting for those new to health care. The book and added online resources enhance learning and readability. Audience Students interested in working in health care, healthcare professionals, and a wide array of individuals seeking to learn more about the healthcare delivery system in the U.S. will find this a gem of a resource. The authors are well-known experts and academic scholars with expertise spanning business, health policy, public health, economics, and business. Features The book is essential for those in need of a primer on healthcare delivery in the U.S., or those who are seeking a better understanding of recent changes that have occurred, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. This condensed and updated version captures issues and opportunities regarding current and future healthcare delivery in the U.S. Each chapter has been updated and many have added new sections that discuss topics such as patient advocacy, cybersecurity, ongoing litigation, aging and long-term care, payment reform, and coordinated care organizations. The authors discuss the details of healthcare delivery and identify implications for the future, including rising healthcare costs, global health threats, and workforce shortages. This sixth edition includes 348 pages, 14 chapters, and a glossary, all of which are needed to grasp some of the complexities associated with delivering and receiving health care in the U.S. The chapters cover a wide range of topics, including the major characteristics of the healthcare delivery system; healthcare providers and professionals; healthcare costs, quality, and financing; acute, community, and long-term care; current and emerging models of care; and vulnerable populations. The book concludes with a discussion outlining concerns for the future of healthcare delivery in the U.S. Finally, the book notes a glossary of key terms throughout. The tables, figures, and exhibits are outstanding and highlight trends, issues, and historical underpinnings associated with healthcare delivery in the U.S. Assessment Overall, this sixth edition book is a necessary addition to anyone seeking better clarity on the U.S. healthcare delivery system and issues impacting its future, such as healthcare costs, quality, and access. The previous editions and the current updated, condensed version are among the best in the field on the topic of healthcare delivery. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the product's objectives met? 10 1-5 Does the website help achieve the purpose? 5 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this directed to an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 3 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5 1-5 Rate the added value from the online version. 5 1-5 Is the online version easy to access? 5 1-5 Rate the ease of navigation/search. 5 1-5 Rate the pedagogic quality of images on the online version. 5 1-5 Rate the value of added audiovisual features online. 5 1-5 Is there sufficient use of hypertext links? 5 1-5 Are there hyperlinks from references to journal articles? 5 1-5 Is there appropriate use of features like bookmarking, printing/exporting? 5 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10 ©2025 Doody Enterprises, Inc.