1. Home
  2. Peer Review: Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System (2nd Edition)

Peer Review

Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System (2nd Edition)

Reviewed:

Jan 4, 2024 by Health Sciences
Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 4.5 stars
Ease of Use: 4.5 stars
Overview:

Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System provides undergraduate students with a thorough foundation to start degree programs in health administration, public health, health sciences, and more. With authors from across the country with a variety of backgrounds, this textbook provides the reader with the history of the U.S. healthcare system, government programs, financing and managed care, cultural awareness, technology, and health disparities. This text is provided as an open education resource, free to all students. Instructors can utilize the entire text or select individual chapters to apply to a wide variety of healthcare courses: Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System Primary Care and Other Healthcare Professionals Inpatient and Outpatient Services Public Health, Prevention, & Wellness Population Health Management Financing Healthcare in the U.S. Government Programs Managed Care & Reimbursement Long-Term Care and Populations with Special Needs Post-Acute Care Quality & Safety The Impact of Technology Historic and Future Perspectives in Health Information Technology Health Policy Complementary and Alternative Care Health Disparities Cultural Competence Healthcare: A Global Perspective For instructors who have access to Canvas learning management system, test banks for each chapter are available in Canvas Commons. They can be found by searching “Introduction to the US Healthcare System (Clobes, 2022)" or via this link.

Type of Material:

  • Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:

 

  • Textbook material for a course
  • Supplemental resource of material: the free ebook could be used for learner reading as homework or a resource for presentations.
Technical Requirements:

 

  • Internet access
  • Web browser to download book
Identify Major Learning Goals:

 

  • Textbook provides the reader with the history of the U.S. healthcare system, government programs, financing and managed care, cultural awareness.
  • Provides thorough foundation to start degree programs in health administration.
  • Purpose is to increase knowledge about the United States healthcare system.
  • Each chapter has lengthy objectives listed.
Target Student Population:

 

  • College Lower Division
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

 

  • User of this ebook will need to be able to read in English.
  • Basic computer skills needed to access the ebook online.
  • No pre-requisite knowledge needed

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The content is appropriate and current.
  • Instructional resources in the form of test banks are available for instructors.
  • The ebook is written clearly and formatted consistently with some color graphics and bolding on the page.
  • Each chapter begins with an introduction and quote.
  • There are case studies for application of information.
  • At the end of chapters are definitions of key terms and a lengthy list of references.
  • The content is complete and includes an expansive overview of elements within healthcare.
Concerns:

 

  • Add links (within the document) to the table of contents for the ability to toggle to areas within the 870 page book versus using the page up or down slide on the side of the page.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The individual chapter objectives are helpful in identifying the teaching-learning goals as well as the focus of the chapter.
  • The content is well written and thorough in achieving an increased knowledge related to US healthcare.
  • The ebook offers current and comprehensive information about the healthcare system in the United States.
  • It could be used for a course textbook or a supplemental textbook for courses dealing in health services administration, public health, or medical care including nursing.

.

Concerns:

 

  • Measurement of learning outcomes is missing which would be extremely helpful for use in a course as well as for self-evaluation. e.g., short quizzes or exercises, as well as links to identified resources or including videos would enhance concept learning effectiveness.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The site has a consistent layout and is in working order.
  • There appears to be some variance in the interface design, e.g., graphics. The site appears to address disability accommodation.
  • The 871 pages are organized into 18 chapters with clear titles where chapters can be downloaded individually.
  • The site also allows the book to be downloaded in its entirety in a short time depending on download speed. 
Concerns:

  • A table of contents, consistency with graphics, e.g., color, size, and ability to toggle to sections more easily would enhance the book.
  • An index at the end of the ebook would add to the book and overall ease of use.
Other Issues and Comments:

 

Absolutely at great resource for learning about the United States healthcare system with some global information about other countries as well.

Creative Commons:
creative-commonscreative-commons by