Robert L. McCarthy, KennethW. Schafermeyer. Health Care Delivery: A Primer for Pharmacists. 4th Edition. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2007. 629 pp, $72.95 (hardcover) ISBN 0-7637-4353-4.
With the current challenges of our health care structure, frequent discussions in political and public arenas, and expanding pharmacist responsibilities, the necessity for education on health care delivery is becoming increasingly important. Standard 9 of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education's Accreditation Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Program in Pharmacy leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree1 (Standards), effective July 2007, states 'graduates must be able to identify and implement needed changes in pharmacy practice and health care delivery.' Further details included in Appendix B of the Standards outline specifics elements of health care delivery for schools to teach, such as introduction to delivery systems; social, political, and economic factors; role of private insurers, etc. Health Care Delivery: A Primer for Pharmacists addresses those topics that should be taught to pharmacists with regard to delivering health care in the United States.
The book is well organized and divided into 3 parts and 20 chapters that allow the text to be used in single or multiple courses as well as in a block format. The editors specifically comment that the organization more closely reflects howinstructors indicated theywere using previous versions of the text. Part I, titled 'Social Aspects ofHealth Care Delivery,' includes chapters on historical and policy perspectives, professionals and interdisciplinary care, the pharmacy profession, the patient and drug use, access, industry, and supply chain. Part II, titled 'Organizational Aspects of Health CareDelivery,' includes different practice settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care, mental health services, home care, and informatics. Part III, titled 'Economic Aspects of Health Care Delivery' includes chapters on basic economic principles affecting health care, unique aspects of health economics, private health insurance, government involvement, Medicare and Medicaid, pharmacoeconomics, international health care services, and finally, health care reform.
The book also has an extensive glossary to assist the reader. (The editors comment that thiscomprehensive new glossary was added to this edition.) The index is complete and also proves useful to the reader searching for information on a specific topic. Each chapter begins with a case scenario, followed by learning objectives and chapter questions. Following the main text, each chapter provides questions for further discussion, key topics and terms, and references. The editors comment that this edition has been shortened by deleting chapters on ethics and public health, which can be better covered by separate texts. The editors further indicate faculty who have students using this new edition may reproduce chapters from the prior edition as needed.
This text would be a useful addition to any health care delivery or hot topics seminar course and provides material both for a traditional lecture as well as discussionbased pedagogy. My only caution is to faculty members who might use the entire text during a single semester because there is some repetition and overlap in material between chapters. Compared to other health care delivery texts, this book is similar with regard to content and level, but investigation of some topics shows more general discussion at a simpler level. Some health care delivery texts focus more on public policy, public health, economics, or otherwise. This text remains general and is specifically geared toward pharmacists.
Overall, Health Care Delivery: A Primer for Pharmacists provides the breadth of content needed to present the social, practice, and economics of health care delivery to pharmacy students. It would be useful to professional stage students and a good reference for pharmacy and health science libraries.
[Reference]
REFERENCES
1. ACPE Accreditation Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Program in Pharmacy leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education; 2007. Available at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/deans/standards.asp Accessed September 27, 2007.
[Author Affiliation]
Reviewed By: Carriann Richey, PharmD
Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
[Author Affiliation]
Corresponding Author: Carriann Richey, PharmD. Butler University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
E-mail: crichey@butler.edu
