Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System – 6th Edition

Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System – 6th Edition by Leiyu Shi and Douglas A. Singh offers an insightful and comprehensive examination of the American healthcare system. The book introduces readers to the structure, organization, financing, delivery, and ongoing transformation of healthcare in the United States.

It explains how different components of the healthcare system operate, including hospitals, physicians, primary care providers, health insurance organizations, government agencies, and long-term care facilities. Readers explore the historical development of American healthcare, healthcare financing and reimbursement, managed care, healthcare policies, public health services, and the roles of Medicare and Medicaid.

The book also examines major issues affecting modern healthcare, such as rising medical costs, unequal access to services, healthcare quality, patient safety, health disparities, and the challenges of healthcare reform. It discusses the Affordable Care Act, the influence of technology on healthcare delivery, and the changing responsibilities of healthcare professionals and administrators.

The sixth edition provides updated information and contemporary perspectives on the U.S. healthcare environment, helping readers understand the impact of recent developments, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on healthcare organizations and vulnerable populations. It connects healthcare policy, economics, administration, and service delivery to give readers a broader understanding of how the system functions.

Written in an accessible and organized style, this book is an excellent resource for students pursuing healthcare administration, public health, nursing, and related disciplines. It is equally useful for healthcare professionals and administrators seeking to strengthen their knowledge of healthcare systems, management, and policy.

A valuable reference for understanding the complexities, challenges, and future direction of healthcare in the United States.

Leiyu Shi, DrPH, MBA, MPA

Dr. Leiyu Shi is a distinguished scholar and Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has dedicated much of his academic and research career to studying primary healthcare, health services, healthcare systems, health disparities, and vulnerable populations. He has also directed the Johns Hopkins Primary Care Policy Center and contributed to the development of primary care assessment tools used internationally. His extensive academic contributions include numerous textbooks and more than 300 scientific journal articles.

Douglas A. Singh, PhD, MBA

Dr. Douglas A. Singh is an experienced healthcare educator, researcher, and management professional. He served as Associate Professor Emeritus of Management at Indiana University South Bend, where he taught courses in healthcare delivery, policy, finance, and management. His professional background includes health services research, business consulting, publishing, and senior management positions in the U.S. healthcare industry, particularly long-term care. He has authored and co-authored several books and contributed to peer-reviewed academic publications.

Together, Leiyu Shi and Douglas A. Singh bring extensive academic knowledge, research expertise, and practical healthcare industry experience to their writing, making their work valuable for students and professionals interested in healthcare administration, policy, and management.