The Role Of Leadership In The Administration Of A Health Organization

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The Role of Leadership in the Administration of a Health Organization

Author : Bruce Wembulua
Publisher : GRIN Verlag
ISBN 13 : 3668358206
Total Pages : 14 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (683 download)

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Book Synopsis The Role of Leadership in the Administration of a Health Organization by : Bruce Wembulua

Download or read book The Role of Leadership in the Administration of a Health Organization written by Bruce Wembulua and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2016-12-07 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essay from the year 2016 in the subject Health - Public Health, grade: 27/30, , course: Health Management, language: English, abstract: “People are led and resources are managed”. A clear understanding of this critical and meaningful difference is the beginning of leadership wisdom that opens the way to being successful. Throughout human history, leadership has been of great importance. Nowadays as much as ever, better leadership helps organizations survive through today’s dynamic world where the business environment is consistently changing and driven by economic instability. Both global and domestic advances in technology, changing markets, regulatory change and fierce competition call for suitable influence from leaders to have objectives met. Organizations realize that effective leadership will provide them with a competitive superiority over rivals and the ability to carry out profound transformation to their organizations. The health care industry is an enormous business, one of the most dynamic sectors driven by the economic situation. Every person in the world needs health care, governments are judged on it as almost everyone is interested in how it is delivered. It is known that better health promotes economic growth which in turn, by catalyzing the equitable distribution of wealth, leads to healthier populations. In such a sensitive sector, leadership and continuity of leadership are of great significance for the provision of effective services. Organizing and managing healthcare delivery to meet higher standardized quality levels is a complex undertaking. Be it at the national level, local levels or at the level of individual interaction between healthcare professional and patient - profound knowledge of both management and leadership principles are required to navigate and successfully solve problems of cost, quality, and access to care across the continuum of care in our society. Leaders are indeed the catalysts for organizational, group, and individual greatness. No great leaders of our time have been successful and prosperous without first understanding the principles of leadership. Using analytic and documentary methods, this piece of work aims to depict effective leadership as a cornerstone of every successful healthcare organization. Although complex in its composition, successful health organizations need effective leadership and management to enable them functioning as single unit for effective and better achievements.

The Future of Nursing

Author : Institute of Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309208955
Total Pages : 700 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

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Book Synopsis The Future of Nursing by : Institute of Medicine

Download or read book The Future of Nursing written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-02-08 with total page 700 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Future of Nursing explores how nurses' roles, responsibilities, and education should change significantly to meet the increased demand for care that will be created by health care reform and to advance improvements in America's increasingly complex health system. At more than 3 million in number, nurses make up the single largest segment of the health care work force. They also spend the greatest amount of time in delivering patient care as a profession. Nurses therefore have valuable insights and unique abilities to contribute as partners with other health care professionals in improving the quality and safety of care as envisioned in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted this year. Nurses should be fully engaged with other health professionals and assume leadership roles in redesigning care in the United States. To ensure its members are well-prepared, the profession should institute residency training for nurses, increase the percentage of nurses who attain a bachelor's degree to 80 percent by 2020, and double the number who pursue doctorates. Furthermore, regulatory and institutional obstacles-including limits on nurses' scope of practice-should be removed so that the health system can reap the full benefit of nurses' training, skills, and knowledge in patient care. In this book, the Institute of Medicine makes recommendations for an action-oriented blueprint for the future of nursing.

Essentials of Management and Leadership in Public Health

Author : Robert Burke
Publisher : Jones & Bartlett Learning
ISBN 13 : 0763742910
Total Pages : 194 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (637 download)

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Book Synopsis Essentials of Management and Leadership in Public Health by : Robert Burke

Download or read book Essentials of Management and Leadership in Public Health written by Robert Burke and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2011-01-28 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the full spectrum of essential competencies required to manage public health organizations, from communication and cultural proficieny to leadership, relationship building, ethics, and program planning. --Book Jacket.

Mastering Leadership

Author : Alan T. Belasen
Publisher : Jones & Bartlett Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1284043231
Total Pages : 350 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (84 download)

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Book Synopsis Mastering Leadership by : Alan T. Belasen

Download or read book Mastering Leadership written by Alan T. Belasen and published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers. This book was released on 2016 with total page 350 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The challenges facing the healthcare industry are unparalleled in scope, number, and magnitude. Organizational realignments of health care systems, uncertainty about the course and impact of legislation, an aging population with evolving clinical needs, the rapid evolution of information management technologies--all combined with pressure to establish reliable systems of quality management have created an unprecedented environment for health care leaders at every level of the system. Mastering Leadership: A Vital Resource for Health Care Organizations defines and clarifies the extraordinary challenges leaders in the health care industry are facing and will continue to confront in the coming years. This text advances a model of leadership that enables executives to steer their organizations through the maze of uncertainty created by legislative, economic, demographic, clinical, information management, and political change. With contributions from leading scholars and experts in the field, the authors skillfully demonstrate how the transformational demands of leadership can be effectively integrated with the transactional and operational necessities of managing. Key Features: - Uses the Competing Values Framework to guide leaders toward an aptitude for assimilating vision development, strategic planning, and operational management. - Lead authors highly experienced in a professional and academic capacity, having served as both health care executives and leaders of growing graduate programs in business, management, and leadership. - Organized into four distinct sections: competition and commitment; communication and collaboration; community and credibility; as well as coordination and compliance.

Healthcare Leadership in Times of Crisis

Author : Dennis W. Tafoya
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030759652
Total Pages : 182 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (37 download)

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Book Synopsis Healthcare Leadership in Times of Crisis by : Dennis W. Tafoya

Download or read book Healthcare Leadership in Times of Crisis written by Dennis W. Tafoya and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-07-07 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses the challenges that healthcare organizations experience when attempting to manage the emergence of troublesome events or crises. It illustrates how experiences gained from event and crisis containment efforts can better prepare these organizations to prevent and/or manage other crises they may experience. Using a model outlining the relationship between a mismanaged event and the triggering of a crisis, the author defines the role of the leadership in healthcare organizations when developing, launching, and managing plans and programs to deal with these dangerous challenges brought on by crises, catastrophes, and disasters to their stakeholder networks. Readers with expertise in leadership and crisis management in general and healthcare management specifically will find this text useful in linking leadership expectations and competencies to event and crisis containment efforts.

Leadership in Surgery

Author : Melina R. Kibbe
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319111078
Total Pages : 201 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (191 download)

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Book Synopsis Leadership in Surgery by : Melina R. Kibbe

Download or read book Leadership in Surgery written by Melina R. Kibbe and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-04-20 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How does one become a successful leader? This book teaches the theories and concepts behind leadership and explains the skills and traits needed to become a good leader. Teaching surgical faculty and trainees (i.e., residents and fellows) how to successfully lead will create more effective surgeon leaders. The skills and theories reviewed in this Volume are highly useful for numerous leadership situations, ranging from heading a committee, leading a research laboratory, directing a clinical effort, leading a Division, leading a Department, among others. By gathering these skills and theories into one comprehensive, portable book, more readers will have access to them.

Leadership in Healthcare

Author : Richard B. Gunderman
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1848009437
Total Pages : 212 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (48 download)

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Book Synopsis Leadership in Healthcare by : Richard B. Gunderman

Download or read book Leadership in Healthcare written by Richard B. Gunderman and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-04-03 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leadership in Healthcare opens up the world of leadership studies to all healthcare professionals. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals spend thousands of hours studying the science and technology of healthcare, and years or even decades putting into practice recent findings in molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, and therapeutics. By contrast, the topic of leadership and the traits of effective leaders tend to receive remarkably little attention. Yet no less vital than an understanding of how to interpret diagnostic tests and design care plans is a grasp of healthcare's organizational side, including the operation of multidisciplinary care teams, academic departments, and hospitals. If patient care, education, research, and professional service are to thrive in years to come, we must do a better job of preparing healthcare professionals to lead effectively. Composed of insightful and thought-provoking essays on the key facets of leadership, this book is designed to meet the needs of several important constituencies, including educators of health professionals who wish to incorporate leadership into their educational programs; health professional organizations seeking to enhance their members' leadership effectiveness, and individual health professionals who wish to embrace leadership in their personal and professional lives. This book represents a vital resource for health professionals who wish to enhance the quality of leadership in health professions education, practice, and professional development. In addition to regularly caring for patients, Richard Gunderman, MD PhD MPH brings to this discussion a wealth of personal experience in professional and organizational leadership.

New Leadership for Today's Health Care Professionals

Author : Louis G. Rubino
Publisher : Jones & Bartlett Learning
ISBN 13 : 1284148645
Total Pages : 402 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (841 download)

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Book Synopsis New Leadership for Today's Health Care Professionals by : Louis G. Rubino

Download or read book New Leadership for Today's Health Care Professionals written by Louis G. Rubino and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2018-12-10 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New Leadership for Today’s Health Care Professionals: Cases and Concepts, Second Edition explores various components of the health care system and how leaders should respond in these arenas. The Second Edition is a thorough revision that offers a comprehensive view of the leadership competencies necessary to be successful in today’s healthcare industry. Each chapter is written by a leader in the healthcare industry under the guidance of the editors who have many years’ experience in academia.

The Oxford Handbook of Health Care Management

Author : Ewan Ferlie
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0191015202
Total Pages : 901 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis The Oxford Handbook of Health Care Management by : Ewan Ferlie

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Health Care Management written by Ewan Ferlie and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-04-07 with total page 901 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Handbook provides an authoritative overview of current issues and debates in the field of health care management. It contains over twenty chapters from well-known and eminent academic authors, who were carefully selected for their expertise and asked to provide a broad and critical overview of developments in their particular topic area. The development of an international perspective and body of knowledge is a key feature of the book. The Handbook secondly makes a case for bringing back a social science perspective into the study of the field of health care management. It therefore contains a number of contrasting and theoretically orientated chapters (e.g. on institutionalism; critical management studies). This social science based approach is a refreshing alternative to much existing work in this domain and offers a good way into current academic debates in this field. The Handbook thirdly explores a variety of important policy and organizational developments apparent within the current health care field (e.g. new organizational forms; growth of management consulting in health care organizations). It therefore explores and comments on major contemporary trends apparent in the practice field.

Organizational Behavior and Theory in Healthcare

Author : Stephen Walston
Publisher : Aupha/Hap Book
ISBN 13 : 9781567938418
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (384 download)

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Book Synopsis Organizational Behavior and Theory in Healthcare by : Stephen Walston

Download or read book Organizational Behavior and Theory in Healthcare written by Stephen Walston and published by Aupha/Hap Book. This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Instructor Resources: Test bank, PowerPoint slides, answer guides to discussion questions, and case study guidelines. In the dynamic and demanding field of healthcare, managers face a unique set of challenges. They lead complex organizations characterized by ever-changing relationships and reporting structures. They interact daily with personnel representing multiple specialties and different professional cultures. To be successful, healthcare leaders must be able to manage these complicated relationships. This book explores theories of organizational design, leadership, and management and the social psychology of organizations as they apply to healthcare. The author, drawing on years of experience as a hospital CEO, uses real-world scenarios to illustrate the management practices that enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Through chapter cases, activities, and questions that reinforce essential concepts, readers will gain an understanding of not only theory but also how the interrelationships of people, organizations, and structures drive the success of a healthcare organization. Organizational Behavior and Theory in Healthcare provides in-depth coverage of the following concepts and more: Theories of managing people Individual and organizational ethics and values Emotions and stress on the job Attitudes and perceptions Power and influence Leadership styles and their application Organizational culture Decision making and problem solving Group dynamics and teams Managing diversity Conflict management and negotiation Organizational design Strategy and change management The comprehensive content is divided into 20 chapters, each dedicated to a specific topic, allowing instructors to adapt the book easily to their course. A listing of healthcare administration competencies by chapter assists instructors in creating a competency-based curriculum.

Leadership for Health Professionals (book)

Author : () (Jerry) R. R. R. Ledlow
Publisher : Jones & Bartlett Learning
ISBN 13 : 1449691331
Total Pages : 472 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (496 download)

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Book Synopsis Leadership for Health Professionals (book) by : () (Jerry) R. R. R. Ledlow

Download or read book Leadership for Health Professionals (book) written by () (Jerry) R. R. R. Ledlow and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2013-05-23 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: eadership for Health Professionals: Theory, Skills, and Applications, Second Edition is the first textbook of its kind to apply classical knowledge of leadership theory and time-honored best practices of industry leaders to a health organization context. This comprehensive and well-organized text is grounded in real-world applications of theoretical concepts, and focuses on practical examples of leadership practice in actual healthcare scenarios. Important Notice: The digital edition of this book is missing some of the images or content found in the physical edition

Complexity Leadership

Author : Diana M Crowell
Publisher : F.A. Davis
ISBN 13 : 0803699077
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (36 download)

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Book Synopsis Complexity Leadership by : Diana M Crowell

Download or read book Complexity Leadership written by Diana M Crowell and published by F.A. Davis. This book was released on 2020-01-07 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lead effectively in today's complex health systems! As hospitals and healthcare organizations strive to meet standards to achieve status in the Magnet Hospital Recognition Program and address the issues in the Institute of Medicine’s Nursing Work Force Issues Initiative, they must be able to respond in ways that embrace rapid change. The 3rd Edition of this groundbreaking text addresses the leadership roles advanced practice nurses can assume in this new environment. It defines the concept of complexity and teaches the leadership skills that are best suited for complex adaptive systems, while also enabling you to build the self-awareness you need to learn new ways to lead. Case studies help you apply your new skills and prepare for your advanced practice roles.

Nursing Leadership and Management

Author : Denise M. Korniewicz
Publisher : DEStech Publications, Inc
ISBN 13 : 1605951587
Total Pages : 209 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (59 download)

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Book Synopsis Nursing Leadership and Management by : Denise M. Korniewicz

Download or read book Nursing Leadership and Management written by Denise M. Korniewicz and published by DEStech Publications, Inc. This book was released on 2015-04-06 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides a practical approach to leadership and management principles specific to clinical settingsCoverage includes clinical decision-making, technology to improve patient outcomes, and leadership and management practice in inter-professional healthcare deliveryMultiple case studies This textbook is intended for students preparing as advanced practice nurses, doctoral physical therapists, doctoral pharmacists, and other advanced practice professionals. The book provides practical approaches to the application of leadership and management principles while systematically presenting the content needed for skilled leadership in varied clinical settings. Chapters are devoted to leadership change, understanding health organizations and systems, technology to improve population-based care, using critical thinking principles to improve patient outcomes, clinical decision-making using evidence-based practice, and inter-professional healthcare delivery. Telehealth and the impacts of the Affordable Care Act are also discussed. A case study is presented at the beginning of each chapter and incorporated into the theoretical material as a continuing illustration.

Bringing Leadership to Life in Health: LEADS in a Caring Environment

Author : Graham Dickson
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1447148754
Total Pages : 204 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (471 download)

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Book Synopsis Bringing Leadership to Life in Health: LEADS in a Caring Environment by : Graham Dickson

Download or read book Bringing Leadership to Life in Health: LEADS in a Caring Environment written by Graham Dickson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2014-01-13 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Globally, the health sector faces significant demands for reform and improvement to meet the needs of the 21st Century. To achieve that goal, highly sophisticated and capable leaders are required across all dimensions of the health system. This book describes the key challenges that demand reform, why better leadership is the source code for better system performance, and the issues that stand in the way of getting that leadership. It includes substantive treatment of the modern democratic challenges that healthcare leaders face; and the essence of what it means to be a leader in today’s world. The essence of leadership itself is described, and the case made for the need for people to use the workplace as the place to develop leadership rather than relying solely on formal programs. It will also outline a self-directed learning process that any individual leader—citizen, clinician, or senior executive—can use to develop their own leadership capability, and thus become more active as a leader of change. This book addresses the need for leaders to think on a system-wide scale. A second part of the book focuses primarily on the Canadian Health system and LEADS in a Caring Environment capabilities framework, and the link between LEADS and frameworks in Australia and the UK. LEADS was developed through a partnership between members of the Healthcare Leaders Association of British Columbia and the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the Canadian Health Leadership Network and Royal Roads University. Currently it is stewarded by a not-for-profit collaboration that has endorsed LEADS as an evidence-informed set of national expectations for Canadian health leaders. LEADS has been endorsed by many health organizations in almost all provinces in Canada as a foundation for their talent management programs in leadership (development and succession planning). The book will address the research foundations for the LEADS framework; how it was developed; the framework’s contents; its congruence with other national frameworks, and how LEADS can be used as a model to envisage and plan change.

Management and Leadership in Nursing and Health Care

Author : Elaine La Monica Rigolosi, EdD, JD, FAAN
Publisher : Springer Publishing Company
ISBN 13 : 082619754X
Total Pages : 449 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (261 download)

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Book Synopsis Management and Leadership in Nursing and Health Care by : Elaine La Monica Rigolosi, EdD, JD, FAAN

Download or read book Management and Leadership in Nursing and Health Care written by Elaine La Monica Rigolosi, EdD, JD, FAAN and published by Springer Publishing Company. This book was released on 2005-05-03 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Designated a Doody's Core Title! This book presents the basics of leadership and management for nurses -- what is essential in order to effectively motivate and educate individuals to achieve the set goals of a group, team, or organization in health care. The basic components of management and leadership theory are described, such as effective communication, analyzing a problem, conflict resolution, and time management. Extensive simulation exercises provide learners with an opportunity to observe, experience, and carry out new behaviors in a safe environment. The book and exercises are designed for use in both self-learning and classroom environments.

Nurse Leadership and Management

Author : Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN
Publisher : Springer Publishing Company
ISBN 13 : 0826177956
Total Pages : 637 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (261 download)

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Book Synopsis Nurse Leadership and Management by : Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN

Download or read book Nurse Leadership and Management written by Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN and published by Springer Publishing Company. This book was released on 2022-09-30 with total page 637 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The authors of this book are innovators, strategists, provocateurs, transformational leaders, and compassionate clinicians. Their advice is based on evidence and years of experience and serves as a guide for leaders to overcome constraints and lead the nation to better health. While the content is foundational for new leaders and executives, the advice from these leaders is an inspiration to all." –Deborah Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Chief Executive Officer, DAISY Foundation President-elect, American Organization for Nursing Leadership Global Advisory Board Member, Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy –Erik Martin, DNP, RN, CENP VP, Patient Care Services, and Chief Nursing Officer, Norton Children's Hospital President, American Organization for Nursing Leadership Inaugural Coldiron Fellow, Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy American Nurses Association, Healthcare Finance Management Association Distinguished by its accomplished Editor and Contributor team, this innovative leadership and management text for graduate nursing students is unique in its focus on relationships, communications, and emotional intelligence at all stages of the nurse’s career. Filled with practical content demonstrating how leadership skills are a key component of management, the text examines specific nursing roles—nurse managers, leaders, and executives—while incorporating the most recent AACN, AONL, and ANA competencies. Case examples demonstrate leadership and management responsibilities in a variety of scenarios, and in-depth, comprehensive case studies at the end of the book address complex issues relating to content from the text. The contributors include a diverse and accomplished team of Nurse Leaders with experience in clinical, administrative, executive, and academic settings. Organizations and schools represented by the author team include: American Nurses Association American Organization for Nursing Leadership Association for Leadership Science in Nursing Cleveland Clinic DAISY Foundation Eisenhower Health Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University New York University New York-Presbyterian Weill-Cornell Medical Center University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Chapters follow a structured format and address leadership, professionalism, relational leadership in practice, social determinants of health, telehealth, innovation, strategic planning, finance and budgeting, and governance. Student activities are included throughout the text, and case examples encourage students to assess their own skills and put learning into practice. Learning objectives and study questions in each chapter reinforce content and emphasize different competencies required for executives and managers. Role-playing exercises help facilitate effective relationship and communication skills, and Instructor resources provide learning activities and teaching strategies for molding future nurse leaders. Key Features: Contributor team includes top-level nurse leaders experienced in healthcare system administration Underscores the importance of relationships and emotional intelligence in skillful nursing leadership and management Demonstrates specific nursing roles and practical applications through abundant, high-quality case studies Clearly distinguishes between different leadership competencies Offers role-playing exercises to improve relationship and communication skills Provides abundant instructor resources including PowerPoints and an Instructor's Manual that includes learning activities and teaching strategies

Health Care Politics, Policy, and Services

Author : Gunnar Almgren, MSW, PhD
Publisher : Springer Publishing Company
ISBN 13 : 0826104797
Total Pages : 364 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (261 download)

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Book Synopsis Health Care Politics, Policy, and Services by : Gunnar Almgren, MSW, PhD

Download or read book Health Care Politics, Policy, and Services written by Gunnar Almgren, MSW, PhD and published by Springer Publishing Company. This book was released on 2006-11-07 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Designated a Doody's Core Title! Winner of an AJN Book of the Year Award! Who Has a Right to Health Care? What Is the Government's Role in Providing Accessible Health Care? How Are Corporations, Insurance Companies, and Health Care Providers Affecting the Quality of Health Care? And, Most Importantly, Can We Reform the U.S. Health Care System? We often debate these issues in health care policy or public health courses, yet we do so without the proper knowledge of the underlying structure of the U.S. health care system--or a framework by which it can be judged. Many health care workers entering the system are ill-equipped to address the issues faced in direct health care practice, in part because they have no ability to evaluate it. In this innovative text, Gunnar Almgren provides all the tools necessary to understand and critique a health care policy in dire need of change. First, he describes the historical evolution of U.S. health care, explaining how the early roles of hospitals, doctors, and nurses still influence today's system. He explains the complex financial aspects of health care, including the concerns of all its major stakeholders. He looks at the government's role in regulating and funding health care, and how that role has expanded and contracted through various political administrations. An entire chapter describes the facilities and services available for the elderly--an issue that will continue to rise in importance as America ages. Finally, he examines the many causes of disparities in the U.S. health care system. In addition, Almgren offers a unique social justice analysis as a framework by which the current system--and proposed reforms--can be judged. By analyzing the health care system through various models of social justice, we can begin to understand and address the urgent issues of economic, racial, and geographic disparities that plague our current system. With its clear, thorough, and comprehensive coverage of U.S. health care, this unique text is accessible to all those in public health, nursing, social work, public policy, or public administration. No other book addresses the underlying issues of the U.S. health care system alongside a variety of social justice models that we can use to evaluate, and perhaps eventually, change it.