Welcome to Exploring the U.S. Healthcare System. This open educational resource (OER) introduces students to foundational characteristics of the U.S. healthcare system. It begins with an overview of the healthcare system that includes a brief history and a description of the current state of health in the U.S. The second chapter describes health delivery systems, including inpatient, outpatient, post-acute, long-term, palliative, and hospice care. An introduction to health insurance in the third chapter will include an overview of basic concepts, private insurance, public insurance, and recent trends. The fourth chapter presents issues related to the triple aim of improving access to care, increasing the quality of care, and lowering the cost of care. The fifth chapter reviews how the government intervenes in healthcare and presents current policy issues related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and value-based contracting. The final chapter on the topic of technology in healthcare provides an overview of health information technology, health information legislation, emerging technologies, and the future of health information technology.
Type of Material:
Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:
Required Reading
Classroom discussion
Homework
Presentation/lecture
Technical Requirements:
Internet access
Accessed via major browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The purpose of this work is to address emergent dynamics related to healthcare delivery.
After active engagement with the textbook, learners should be able to
Identify the issues related to improving healthcare
Describe the US healthcare system.
Discuss the current state of the US healthcare system.
Explain the patient protection and affordable care acts.
Analyze the healthcare delivery system
Distinguish between public and private healthcare insurance.
Target Student Population:
College Upper Division
Graduate School
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic healthcare terminology
Some understanding of psychology would prove useful. However, it is not necessary.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Includes resources within chapters.
Includes source citations and references for source information.
There is a drop-down guide that helps to navigate to each chapter and subheadings.
The book is well laid out each chapter builds (scaffolds) on the preceding one.
A variety of quiz formats is used at the end of each chapter comprising critical thinking questions.
Good use of multiple types of media, photos, videos, and infographics.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Learning objectives are provided for each chapter.
The book is very engaging with interactive activities throughout the chapters.
Provides links to relevant material.
All chapters provide a concise summary.
Each chapter can be used as a stand-alone lesson.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Variation is the types of knowledge checks used (crossword puzzle, fill in the blanks, drag and drop options, word search)
The layout is easy to navigate.
The links are working.
Videos are functional
Creative Commons:
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