Handbook of research on healthcare administration and management.

Abstract

Healthcare is an important industry that touches most, if not all of us at some time in our lives. Healthcare is noted for using leading edge technologies and embracing new scientific discoveries to enable better cures for diseases and better means to enable early detection of most life threatening diseases. However, the healthcare industry globally, and in the US specifically, has been extremely slow to adopt technologies that focus on better practice management and administrative needs. Presently, healthcare is grappling with many challenges both nationally and globally, including escalating costs, a move to a preventative care environment and a technology savvy patient with high expectations. This in turn necessitates prudent healthcare administration and management in order to realise superior healthcare delivery. A critical aspect to facilitating optimal healthcare delivery is a focus on value (preface, page xxxi).