Today, as never before, healthcare has the ability to enhance the quality and duration of life. At the same time, healthcare has become so costly that it can easily bankrupt governments and impoverish individuals and families.



Health services research is a highly multidisciplinary field, including such areas as health administration, health economics, medical sociology, medicine, , political science, public health, and public policy. The Encyclopedia of Health Services Research is the first single reference source to capture the diversity and complexity of the field. With more than 400 entries, these two volumes investigate the relationship between the factors of cost, quality, and access to healthcare and their impact upon medical outcomes such as death, disability, disease, discomfort, and dissatisfaction with care.



Key Features



Examines the growing healthcare crisis facing the United States
Encompasses the structure, process, and outcomes of healthcare
Aims to improve the equity, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of healthcare by influencing and developing public policies
Describes healthcare systems and issues from around the globe



Key Themes



Access to Care
Accreditation, Associations, Foundations, and Research Organizations
Biographies of Current and Past Leaders
Cost of Care, Economics, Finance, and Payment Mechanisms
Disease, Disability, Health, and Health Behavior
Government and International Healthcare Organizations
Health Insurance
Health Professionals and Healthcare Organizations
Health Services Research
Laws, Regulations, and Ethics
Measurement; Data Sources and Coding; and Research Methods
Outcomes of Care
Policy Issues, Healthcare Reform, and International Comparisons
Public Health
Quality and Safety of Care
Special and Vulnerable Groups





The Encyclopedia is designed to be an introduction to the various topics of health services research for an audience including undergraduate students, graduate students, andgeneral readers seeking non-technical descriptions of the field and its practices. It is also useful for healthcare practitioners wishing to stay abreast of the changes and updates in the field.