"This new edition addresses the increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of the nation's health care system and to provide an adequate level of health care for all Americans. The seventh edition reflects the revolutionary changes in the practice of clinical medicine, government policy, information technology, and health care cost containment. In-depth information in the areas of health care finance, health care access, managed care, and insurance and home health is also provided."--Back cover.

Understanding health systems: the organization of health care in the United States -- Technology in the U.S. health care system -- Population and disease patterns and trends -- Financing health systems -- Private health insurance and managed care -- Public health: joint public-private responsibility in an era of new threats -- Ambulatory health care services and organizations -- Hospitals and health systems -- The continuum of long-term care -- Mental and behavioral health services -- The pharmaceutical industry -- Health care professionals -- Understanding health policy -- The quality of health care -- Ethical issues in public health and health services -- The future of health services.