The Health Care Policy Process

Examining an arena that has grown in recent years, The Health Care Policy Process enables the reader to develop an understanding of the scope and objectives of health policy studies. Taking as her starting point an analysis of the health care system and the dynamics of the policy process, author Carol Barker considers the relationship between planning and policy. She provides a working knowledge of the different ways in which policy issues may be analyzed and identifies the problems involved in attempting to assess the views of different interest groups while stressing the importance of supporting an active process of policy development. In addition, this thought-provoking volume looks at key concepts in analyzing health care issues and examines some of the debates overshadowing today's health policy agenda. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the dimensions of these issues in a way that will help those organizing health care to think strategically about the policy implications of health plans and policies. This intriguing volume is sure to be read by students and professionals in the fields of public health and public policy as well as those in nursing.