Reviews for Older Adult-Led Health Promotion in Urban Communities: Models and Interventions

The average rating for Older Adult-Led Health Promotion in Urban Communities: Models and Interventions based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-12-13 00:00:00 Carolle Rouleau The title was so enticing. But this turned out to be mostly about the specialization in American medical practice from the 19th century to 1970 (when Stevens was researching and writing), and the professionalization (certifying boards, which determined which medical practices became distinct specialties - abdominal surgery was denied and had to settle for resting under the general surgery aegis - and exactly what type of education and how much would be required for that practice). My main interest in reading about health policy and the history of healthcare and insurance in America is how we ended up with the system we have, almost entirely private (doctors, hospitals, insurance companies), largely employer-based (an issue Stevens doesn't touch on at all), hugely expensive (multiples of what other Western democracies are paying, for not as good health outcomes). Stevens does write about this, in small measure: about the role of the AMA in fighting reform at every turn, about how every special interest except anyone working on behalf of the patient was fighting to maintain their turf. She spends a bit of time on the legislative efforts to get reforms passed, all of which failed until Medicare and Medicaid. As she goes to press, she is not optimistic about these two relatively new programs, whose costs, she feels, are already spiraling out of control. Oddly enough though, given what she knows about the failures of reform at every possible juncture in the 20th century, she is optimistic that a national health insurance system is just around the corner. Enough pressures have come to bear, she thinks, that this has reached a crisis point and something will get done. If not by 1980, then certainly by 2000. HAAAA! This is the second in a trilogy where Stevens compared the development of healthcare and insurance systems in the U.S. and Britain.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-01-12 00:00:00 Christian Leu Okay, I know some (ahem, Ms. Posey) don't want to be bothered by her. But, what can I say, I'm a sucker for relational autonomy.