Includes bibliographical references and index.

Understanding health systems: the organization of health care in the United States -- Technology in the U.S. health care system -- Population and disease patterns and trends -- Financing health systems -- Private health insurance and managed care -- Public health: joint public-private responsibility in an era of new threats -- Ambulatory health care services and organizations -- Hospitals and health systems -- The continuum of long-term care -- Mental and behavioral health services -- The pharmaceutical industry -- Health care professionals -- Understanding health policy -- The quality of health care -- Ethical issues in public health and health services -- The future of health services.