Indicators of Chronic Health Conditions: Monitoring Community-Level Delivery Systems

As the creation and implementation of health policy become increasingly managed at the community level, ways must be found to ensure the proper measurement and monitoring of health program efficiency. Indicators of Chronic Health Conditions explores the current understanding of selected chronic conditions and the capacity of community-level health services and delivery systems to address the health care needs for persons with the various illnesses.

Beginning with a history of health indicators and community-level management of health services, this book goes further to examine the care needs and service delivery systems affecting different populations. These subpopulations include children, persons with mental retardation, persons with chronic mental illness, adults with physical disabilities, adults with chronic medical conditions, chronic substance abusers, and elderly persons. The volume concludes with ideas for monitoring community-level systems for persons with chronic health conditions. Professionals and students in the fields of health policy, public health, health care for persons with chronic illness, and public policy will benefit from the information provided.

Robert J. Newcomer is professor and chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. A. E. Benjamin is professor of social welfare at the School of Public Policy and Social Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.