Health Care Services in the 1990s: A Consumer's Guide

(Hardback)

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The main aim of this guide is to show people how to make knowledgeable decisions in choosing their health care, such as insurance, doctor and hospital. It provides information about ambulatory and long-term care and mental health services and discusses the changing roles of physicians and dentists, insurance versus pre-paid plans, assuring quality care, how hospitals and physicians get paid and alternatives to traditional medicine. Appendices list current addresses, contact information and toll-free telephone numbers of agencies which can be approached to answer questions about specific needs and situations.

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Increasingly complex health care technology, the rapid development of medical knowledge, and changes in the structure and financing of the entire health service system all complicate well-informed decision making. Striving to make deciding a little less onerous by collocating basic information and advice, Williams and Guerra begin their guide to the health care galaxy by describing the role consumers should assume in promoting their own health. In subsequent chapters, they offer extensive explanations of care-giving institutions, professional health care providers, paying for health services through health insurance and governmental programs, financing and reimbursement, assessing and ensuring the quality of care received, and alternatives to mainstream medicine. In addition to answering questions, they urge each individual to consider the important decisions he or she will likely need to make concerning his or her health care.-Booklist
"Increasingly complex health care technology, the rapid development of medical knowledge, and changes in the structure and financing of the entire health service system all complicate well-informed decision making. Striving to make deciding a little less onerous by collocating basic information and advice, Williams and Guerra begin their guide to the health care galaxy by describing the role consumers should assume in promoting their own health. In subsequent chapters, they offer extensive explanations of care-giving institutions, professional health care providers, paying for health services through health insurance and governmental programs, financing and reimbursement, assessing and ensuring the quality of care received, and alternatives to mainstream medicine. In addition to answering questions, they urge each individual to consider the important decisions he or she will likely need to make concerning his or her health care."-Booklist

Author Bio

STEPHEN J. WILLIAMS is a professor and head of the division of health services administration, and head of the graduate program in health services administration at the Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California. Dr. Williams is the author of numerous books and articles on health care. SANDRA J. GUERRA is the Clayton Foundation Administrator at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California.