Introduction to Health Care

"Thinking It Through" features sharpen critical-thinking and problem-solving skills by encouraging readers to apply chapter concepts to real-world workplace scenarios.

End-of-chapter "Suggested Learning Activities" give readers additional hands-on practice using chapter concepts to solve problems and issues they may face on the job.

Each chapter opens with an engaging “The Case Of” feature presenting a relevant example from real-world practice, while chapters end with application exercises that refer back to the opening examples to reinforce learning.

Drawing on decades of professional experience in clinical and classroom settings, the authors provide valuable insights on vital topics often excluded from introductory books, including lifestyle management, lifelong learning, documentation, cost control, performance improvement, and customer service.

Equipping readers for success in school and in their careers, the text's comprehensive coverage includes information and resources that benefit individuals both in the classroom and on the job, including tips and tools for test prep, the challenges of dealing with adult responsibilities while in school and effective lifestyle management (staying healthy, managing time and handling stress).

Drawing on decades of professional experience in clinical and classroom settings, the authors provide valuable insights on vital topics often excluded from introductory books, such as lifestyle management, lifelong learning, documentation, cost control, performance improvement, customer service and much more.

Maximizing student success, each chapter presents charts and boxed features that summarize or expand on the core material, enabling readers to quickly locate needed information, identify key concepts and review for assignments or exams.

*NEW* New, up-to-date web activities enable students to dig deeper and expand their understanding of chapter concepts. Instead of leaving students on their own to hunt for trustworthy online resources, each chapter includes addresses for credible websites (such as MedlinePlus, Mayo Clinic, American Cancer Society and Harvard) along with questions and activities instructors can use for assignments -- giving readers more opportunities to put what they learn into real-world practice.

*NEW* A much more comprehensive list of Learning Objectives has been added to each chapter to help instructors and students assess readers' understanding of the material. Each Learning Objective is correlated to an end-of-chapter Review Question, helping readers zero in on the most important topics.

*NEW* All material -- including the reading content, art program and online courseware material -- has been thoroughly reviewed and updated to reflect modern health care practices and the most current research findings available.

*NEW* The material and sections in some of the chapters have been reorganized to flow in a more logical manner -- making the text more student friendly than ever.

*NEW* Timely, relevant and completely up to date, the Fifth Edition includes expanded coverage of topics of current interest, including the opioid crisis, precision/personalized medicine, suicide prevention, health disparities (such as how racism affects access to health care), patient rights and much more.

*NEW* Updated career information, basic formula method for calculating drug dosages, statistics in health care, sample contents of an incident report, tips for avoiding internet job-search scams and new study tips. Offers expanded coverage of patient rights, exertion injuries among health care professionals, influenza, empathy, professionalism on social media, professional development, career ladders, implicit bias, communication through the life span, HIPAA and medical records, Medicaid and VHA.