The author is a credible authority in the subject matter. This book has been organized with the eye of a wise and seasoned professional. The author has written many articles on the subject of community-oriented health system planning that are cited in the text. Health planning is the process of identifying the gaps between the ideal health system and the actual and developing proposals that will narrow those gaps. This definition is implicit in the indicator approach presented in this book.
Performance indicators reflect goals and imply standards for the healthcare system.
Community health planning is an approach to healthcare management that is predicated on the assumption that the public interest takes precedence over private gain. Turning fragmented local delivery systems into coordinated primary care systems will be difficult. To transform systems contemporary leaders will need to empower workers and communities. The strengths of this book are also the weaknesses. The text, tables, and figures represent an approach for interpreting, understanding, organizing, and implementing planning for community-oriented health systems.