Health Care Systems in Transition: An International Perspective / Edition 1

by Francis D. Powell, Albert F. Wessen

Overview

This book offers an overview of health care systems in advanced industrial nations and its relation to current challenges from the USA. Part One offers guidelines for comparing health care reforms. Parts Two to Five examine health care and attempts at health care reform in Germany, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Part Six considers the impact on reform of structural differences in health care systems, and how national reform measures might be reflected in regional and state programs in the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761910817
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	11/24/1998
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.13(d)

About the Author

Powell, Francis D., PhD (Univ of Massachusetts); Wessen, Albert F. , PhD (Brown Univ)

Table of Contents

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
The Comparative Study of Health Care Reform - Albert F Wessen
Lessons from Abroad - David Mechanic
A Comparative Perspective
Comparative Health Systems and the Convergence Hypothesis - Mark Field
The Dialectics of Universalism and Particularism
PART TWO: THE GERMAN EXPERIENCE
From Solidarity to Market Competition - Christa Altenstetter
Values, Structure and Strategy in German Health Policy 1883-1997
Health Care Cost Containment in Germany - Bradford Kirkman-Liff
Germany Unity and Health Care Reform - Bradley Scharf
PART THREE: THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE
Canadian National Health Insurance - Catherine Charles and Robin Badgley
Evolution and Unresolved Policy Issues
Will Power, Cost Control and Health Reform in Canada, 1987-1992 - Catherine Fooks
Preventive and Primary Care Access Systems - Francois Béland
CLSCs as Neighborhood and Social Service Centers in Quebec
PART FOUR: THE SWEDISH EXPERIENCE
Historical and Institutional Foundations of the Swedish Health Care System - Ellen Immergut
Evolving Roles of the National and Regional Governments in the Swedish Health Care System - Richard Saltman
Cost Control in the Swedish Health Sector - Casten von Otter
PART FIVE: THE BRITISH EXPERIENCE
Britain's Health Care Experiment - Patricia Day and Rudolf Klein
The Reforms of the British National Health Service - John Appleby
Policy Lessons from the British Health Care System - Donald W Light
PART SIX: HEALTH CARE REFORM: TOWARD A SYNTHESIS
Structural Differences and Health Care Reform - Albert F Wessen
Patterns of Health Care System Change - Francis D Powell

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

This multiauthored book analyzes the healthcare systems of Germany, Canada, Sweden, and Great Britain. Three introductory chapters reflect on the comparative study of healthcare systems and healthcare reform. Following this introduction are four sections, one each devoted to the German, Canadian, Swedish, and British experiences with healthcare. A concluding section presents two chapters by the editors identifying common themes and patterns of healthcare system change. The purpose is the analysis of the healthcare systems, stressing unique ways in which each country has responded to common problems facing all contemporary health systems. Healthcare policy makers, health services researchers, as well as healthcare administration and health profession educators interested in understanding the healthcare systems and healthcare reform processes of industrialized countries. Particularly helpful are the four sections devoted to different national health systems. Each includes three chapters written by different contributors who provide different perspectives. There are also several excellent chapters describing the context for recent reforms for several of these countries, as well as insightful assessments of these reforms. This is a very helpful book for those interested in understanding the history and recent reforms of the healthcare systems of other industrialized nations. While the original impetus for this book came from an international conference held in October of 1993, the contributors and editors have updated the material nicely. Nonetheless, some chapters are somewhat dated, an almost inevitable problem given the rapid changes in healthcare technology and health system reform.Those interested in the most current information on international trends in the organization and financing of healthcare may wish to turn to the May/June 1999 Health Affairs which reports on international health reform in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, and elsewhere.

Eugene C. Rich

Presents a framework for examining and comparing health care reform and looks at lessons to be learned from the ways in which Germany, Canada, Sweden, and Great Britain have attempted to maximize their populations' health through efforts involving such factors as access to care, cost containment, and national payment programs. Considers how structural differences in health care systems may impact efforts at reform and how national reform measures in countries studied might be reflected in regional and state programs in the US. Material originated from an October 1993 conference held in Boston. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Reviewer: Eugene C. Rich, MD (Creighton University Medical Center)
Description: This multiauthored book analyzes the healthcare systems of Germany, Canada, Sweden, and Great Britain. Three introductory chapters reflect on the comparative study of healthcare systems and healthcare reform. Following this introduction are four sections, one each devoted to the German, Canadian, Swedish, and British experiences with healthcare. A concluding section presents two chapters by the editors identifying common themes and patterns of healthcare system change.
Purpose: The purpose is the analysis of the healthcare systems, stressing unique ways in which each country has responded to common problems facing all contemporary health systems.
Audience: Healthcare policy makers, health services researchers, as well as healthcare administration and health profession educators interested in understanding the healthcare systems and healthcare reform processes of industrialized countries.
Features: Particularly helpful are the four sections devoted to different national health systems. Each includes three chapters written by different contributors who provide different perspectives. There are also several excellent chapters describing the context for recent reforms for several of these countries, as well as insightful assessments of these reforms.
Assessment: This is a very helpful book for those interested in understanding the history and recent reforms of the healthcare systems of other industrialized nations. While the original impetus for this book came from an international conference held in October of 1993, the contributors and editors have updated the material nicely. Nonetheless, some chapters are somewhat dated, an almost inevitable problem given the rapid changes in healthcare technology and health system reform. Those interested in the most current information on international trends in the organization and financing of healthcare may wish to turn to the May/June 1999 Health Affairs which reports on international health reform in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, and elsewhere.

Doody's Review Service