Understanding Health Care in America

<p>This book examines the current state of American health care using a social science lens to focus on the interdependent intercultural economic and communication aspects of access and delivery. </p><p>This text explores how the cultures of health care organizations health professions governments and capitalism as well as communication all contribute to a disease-focused economically driven technology-centered health care system. It seeks to understand 21st century health care from a macro-level view based on historical realizations and the current plethora of interdependent but self-serving realities that provide few if any incentives for organizational collaboration and change. The fact that the most expensive health care system in the world does not provide the healthiest outcomes is a driving force in this exploration. By reflecting on American values and beliefs regarding health care from philosophical clinical communication and cost perspectives this text is designed to encourage an organizational transformation at every level from government to providers to patients.</p><p>This comprehensive survey is an important guide for those studying or working in health care professions as well as health care policy and administration. It should also be of interest to any reader who seeks to better understand U.S. health care policy from social science economic and/or health communication perspectives.</p>