Seeking Value: Balancing Cost and Quality in Psychiatric Care

The US health care system is the most expensive in the world, but its health indicators are among the worst in the developed world. Seeking Value: Balancing Cost and Quality in Psychiatric Care offers a holistic vision for health care reform that emphasizes the role of psychiatric professionals in reducing costs and improving population health. It also explores public policy issues and cultural constructs that can impact population health, such as the incorporation of healthy practices in the workplace, efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change, and the elimination of counterproductive incarceration practices.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 643 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2021
Publisher: Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry,U.S.

The United States faces a concerning paradox when it comes to its health indicators, despite boasting the most expensive healthcare system in the world. Despite this substantial investment, the country ranks among the worst in developed nations when it comes to health outcomes. This disparity arises from a fragmented service delivery system and financial arrangements that often prioritize commercial interests over public health.

In seeking value: Balancing cost and quality in psychiatric care, a comprehensive volume published by the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry's Mental Health Services Committee, the authors delve into the complex factors that have shaped the current state of healthcare in the United States. The book begins by examining the concept and history of value measurement, providing a foundation for understanding the challenges and opportunities in healthcare reform.

The book goes beyond a mere analysis and offers a holistic vision for health care reform. It emphasizes the pivotal paragraph:

A section on system interventions explores traditional models of financing healthcare and the role of market forces in shaping public health strategies. It examines broad public health approaches, such as eliminating administrative waste and integrating care, that can reduce costs and improve population health, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between mental and physical health. Recognizing that these larger-scale interventions require time to yield results, the book also explores how the psychiatric profession and individual psychiatrists can contribute to a more skill-diverse, collaborative, activist, value-conscious, and visionary specialty.

Several chapters in the book identify public policy issues and cultural constructs that extend beyond the typical roles of clinicians and healthcare administrators but have the potential to impact population health in significant ways. By illustrating how different choices could lead to remarkable improvements in social well-being, the book provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between healthcare systems, policy, and societal factors.

In conclusion, seeking value: Balancing cost and quality in psychiatric care offers a comprehensive and insightful examination of the challenges and opportunities in healthcare reform. By advocating for a holistic vision that prioritizes public health, collaboration, and value-conscious care, the book provides a valuable resource for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and individuals seeking to improve the health and well-being of populations.

Weight: 768g
Dimension: 153 x 230 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780873182256