Main description:

This is a definitive and comprehensive textbook on how to manage health care services, whether independent hospitals or networks (systems) of related health services. It covers everything from general theories on organizational structures to the impact of technology in both medicine and management to a plethora of management issues, including motivation, leadership, communication, resource allocation, quality management, problem solving and marketing. It presents management issues that are constant in all organizations along with those that are unique to health services, and particularly to the new generation of integrated services. The new edition has been restructured somewhat from its predecessor.There are two main sections to the text: the first covers general definitions and theories about how health organizations work, and the second section discusses the range of tools available to managers for running their organizations, including managing internal and external relationships. Chapters include many figures and tables that help readers visualize the theories and relationships that are being expounded. They also include general discussion questions plus case studies with related questions. There is a comprehensive bibliography at the end of the book listing related readings beyond the references.