3.00 Credits
HC 523. (3,0). Healthcare System Delivery in the US. This course provides a broad overview of all structural elements of the American healthcare delivery system, covering: 1) cultureal beliefs and values impacting its shape, 2) the historical evolution of health services in the US, 3) resources provided by providers and other professionals, medical technology, and public-private financing including government and for-profit payers, 4) outpatient and primary care, acute care facilities, andlong-term care delivery outlets including both managed care and intergrated organizations and health services fo rspecial populations, and 5) patient deliverables as measured by costs, access and quality. Brief coverage us provided of the role of for-profit helath industry suppliers and not0for-profit patient advocacy organizations, as well as the impact of political lobbyists. Hot topics inpatient-centerd care and evidence-based practices will be addressed in depth, as will the legal and regulatory framework inwhich the system functions. The role of health policy and future outlook are also addressed in the context of public health trends, including the impacts and political conflicts emanating from enactment by Congress of the Affordable Care Act of 2009.