Remaking Health Care in America: Building Organized Delivery Systems

Not only does America's overly specialized and fragmented health care system make it difficult for it to respond to rapid change, it is costing a trillion dollars a year. As the US begins to develop a new health care delivery system, it must weigh its traditional values (autonomy, individuality, self determination and diversity) against the benefit of a system that promotes common good, other directedness and community. Based on a 4 year study of 11 different markets across the country, "The Transformation of American Healthcare" identifies key success factors and barriers, and offers practical suggestions and recommendations to developing and implementing a more integrated, cost-effective delivery system.

"This book is deep in understanding of what it will really take to reform our nation′s health care system." Don Berwick, M.D., president and CEO, The Institute for Healthcare Improvement

"Shortell and colleagues simply know more about organizing and managing delivery systems to produce superior health outcomes. Their vision of the community health management system points the way for realistically creating health value for individuals and populations." David Kindig, M.D., professor and director, Graduate Programs in Health Services Management, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison

"This book will prove a useful tool for anyone who is interested in helping the United States move toward a more integrated, community–oriented health care system." William C. Richardson, president and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

"Shortell and colleagues outline some of the underlying requirements for creating value in health care delivery. This second edition provides important information to academics and practitioners and is well worth reading." Leonard D. Schaeffer, chairman and CEO, Wellpoint Health Networks, Inc.

"The second edition of Remaking Health Care in America is a ′must read′ for system CEOs and physician leaders as well as faculty and students in health care management and policy." Gail Warden, president and CEO, Henry Ford Health System

"A path–breaking work that should be read by policymakers and practitioners alike. The most comprehensive and insightful treatment of integrated health systems available." Gail Wilensky, John M. Olin senior fellow, Project Hope; and chair, MedPAC

"Remaking Health Care is so rich in strategic analysis, so detailed in its case studies, and so logical in organizing barriers and critical success factors that it cannot help but enlighten every health system leader in America." Health System Leader

"Steve Shortell once again demonstrates his uncanny ability to recognize significant patterns where others see only chaos. His prescription for the next phase in the evolution of our health care system is clearsighted and based in reality. I hope leaders listen carefully." Donald M. Berwick, M.D., president and CEO, Institute for Healthcare Improvement

"This is a comprehensive, provocative, and compassionate book. Drawing on recent study and long experience, the authors describe a compelling future of community–focused health care that can be the outgrowth of our current efforts to more effectively integrate health care for patients and populations." David M. Lawrence, chairman and CEO, Kaiser Permanente

"What distinguishes Shortell′s latest work is that he suggests what health systems should do with their resources: improve the health of their communities! If systems follow the authors′ advice, perhaps Ands will finally take precedence over means in the delivery of health services." Jeff Goldsmith, president, Health Futures, Inc.

"The contents of this book speak eloquently to the revolutionary changes taking place in our health care system. Findings regarding integration within systems both define the directions of the future and point out how far we have to go. The information on managing and governing the organized delivery system is ′must′ reading for the leaders of today′s health care system." A. Diane Moeller, former CEO, Catholic Health Corporation

"Shortell and his colleagues once again take us into the future. Remaking Health Care in America provides a comprehensive, balanced, and insightful analysis of what might be done to truly achieve clinically integrated systems of care." Arnold D. Kaluzny, professor, health policy and administration, and senior fellow, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Our health system has succumbed to a series of ill–fated management fads. Components of the health system ′integrate′ just to ′integrate′, often without clear, realistic economic and clinical objectives. Remaking Health Care in America offers a thoughtful blueprint against which to measure the current effusion of econo–management babble. A must read also for policy wonks." Uwe E. Reinhardt, James Madison Professor of Political Economy, Princeton University

"A path–breaking work, exploring the key building blocks of organized delivery systems. The findings, insights, and observations regarding the strategies, structures, operations, and outcomes of these emerging systems will be of critical importance to managers, policy makers, and students." Howard S. Zuckerman, professor, Arizona State University School Health Administration & Policy, and director, Center for Health Care Management

"[Shortell′s] latest book focuses on the turbulence which is currently buffeting health care in America, that it inquires into the creation and effectiveness of ′organized delivery systems,′ and that it is a collaborative venture." Kurt Darr, J.D., Sc.D., FACHE, Department of Health Services Management and Policy, The George Washington University, Inquiry

"The text was well organized. The health–system scenarios were described in an easy–to–read manner. I recommAnd this book for health professionals in leadership positions. It will also be helpful for those involved in the planning and design of new approaches to meet the needs of their patients." Jean B. Douglas PharmD, Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Moses H Cone Memprial Hospital, Greensboro, NC, Journal of Pharmacy Technology