Stewart Library - Weber State University


Research Guides For: MHA 6000-Health Systems and the   Healthcare Economy

Table of Contents


Before You Begin...

Before doing any research, decide what it is you need to find out, and develop clear concise questions. For example, instead of saying "I need information on socialized medicine", you might break this down into more specific questions:
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of socialized medicine?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of privatization?
  • What degree of control should the government have over healthcare delivery?
  • What are some characteristics of the socialized health care system in Canada?  The UK?

When you have these specific questions written down, you will also have a list of possible terms (keywords) to use in your searches:

  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of socialized medicine?
    • benefits, advantages, characteristics
    • drawbacks, disadvantages, characteristics
    • socialized medicine, socialized healthcare

Note:  It is important to include all keywords, variations, and synonyms for each concept from the questions you are asking.  For example, if you are looking for information on intensive insulin therapy for type I diabetics, you could find this information using any of the following keywords: DIABETES, DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE I DIABETES, INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES, IDDM, EARLY-ONSET DIABETES... They all refer to the same thing;  if you do a search using only the term type I diabetes, you will probably miss important information.  Also, some databases might use one term, while others might use a different variation. 


 

Recommended Databases

  • CQ Researcher (Fulltext articles on topics of current interest.  An excellent place to start researching a paper topic.  Either type in a few keywords in the search box to the left, or click on Browse by Topic from the left hand menu bar.)
  • ABI/INFORM Global  (Excellent coverage of business periodicals and newspapers.  Click on the Advanced Search tab at the top.  Enter your first concept on the first line, and your second concept on the second line.  Specify fields to the right, date range below, or full text only, below.)
  • Lexis-Nexis Academic   (Excellent coverage of periodicals and newspapers in all disciplines.  For news, select News from the left hand menu bar.  Select news category and source from the search screen, change fields to the right, and date range just below the search screen.)
  • ProQuest Newspapers (Full-text of 300+ U.S. and international news sources, including the Wall Street Journal. Either type in a few keywords in the search box or click on Browse Topics on the right side of the screen.)
  • EbscoHost
    • From here, you may search all relevant Ebsco databases from both healthcare and business at the same time.   From this menu, select one or more of the following:
      • Academic Search Premier (for broad coverage in all fields)
      • Newspaper Source (over 180 regional U.S. newspapers, international newspapers, newswires, newspaper columns and other sources)
      • Masterfile Premier (for broad coverage in all fields)
      • Business Source Premier (excellent coverage of business publications)
      • Regional Business News (incorporates coverage of business journals, newspapers and newswires from all metropolitan and rural areas within the US)
      • CINAHL (for nursing and allied health journals and publications)
      • Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition (scholarly journals focusing on many medical disciplines)
      • Health Source:  Consumer Edition (for information on many health topics including the medical sciences, food sciences and nutrition, childcare, sports medicine and general health)
  • PubMed Central ("Free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature" from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Type a few keywords in the search box or browse the individual journals.)

Topics

Under each topic below are some samples articles you might find useful.  Next to each article citation is the name of the database where the article may be found.  If you have trouble locating the article in the database, call the reference desk for help (626-6415), or email Megan Davis at megandavis1@weber.edu

Provider Shortages

Brown, H. (2003, July 21). The doctor is out. Forbes, 172(2), 46. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Reilly, P. (2003, June 16). Help wanted, desperately. Modern Healthcare, 33(24), 24.

Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Romano, M. (2003, June 16). The vanishing doctor surplus. Modern Healthcare, 33(24), 28. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Austin, M. (2003, May 22). Doctor shortage stalling surgeries: Suburbs lure urban anesthesiologists.  Denver Post, p. A01. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Fitch foresees no relief to the current nursing shortage. (2003, May 15). Retrieved from http://www.hospitalconnect.com.

Park, C. (2003, May 13). Shortages make recruiting doctors difficult. The Chattanooga Times/Free Press, p. A1. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis Academic database.

Kowalczyk, L. (2003, April 27). A survey finds physician crisis in key specialties patients report waiting for care. Boston Globe, p. B6. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Thrall, T. (2003, February). MDs: Missing doctors? Hospitals & Health Networks, 77(2), 34. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Colwill, J. & Cultice, J. (2003, January/February). The future supply of family physicians: Implications for rural America. Health Affairs, 22(1), 190. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.

Kemper, V. (2002, November 7). Elderly scrambling for care/It's hard to find physicians who accept Medicare patients. Houston Chronicle, p. 11. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Cooper, R., Getzen, T., McKee, H., & Laud, P. (2002, January/February). Economic and demographic trends signal an impending physician shortage. Health Affairs, 21(1), 140. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.

Deighton, B. (2002, January 17). Doctor shortage is widespread. [Letter to the editor]. The Augusta Chronicle, p. A05. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

 

Socialized Medicine/Privatization

Lambro, D. (2003, August 7). Dean's budget-balancing act left taxpayers in red; Bush campaign braces to slam record. The Washington Times, p. A01. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Ebbert, S. & Lutz, K. (2003, August 6). Welfare benefits set to decrease for 16,000. Boston Globe, p. B1. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Halstead, T. & Rubiner, L. (2003, August 5). Health insurance required. [Editorial]. The Washington Post, p. A15. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Gambling on private health insurance. (2003, August 4). [Editorial]. The Washington Post, p. A14. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Paris, R. (2003, August 2). National health. [Letter to the editor]. The Press Democrat, p. B6. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Disharoon, S. (2003, July 22). Americans deserve national health care program. [Editorial]. The Press Democrat, p. D8. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Detroit's health-care tar pit. (2003, July 18). [Editorial]. Wall Street Journal, p. A8. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Bush abandons epochal health care battle. (2003, July 8). [Editorial]. The Augusta Chronicle , p. A04. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Mabley, J. (2003, July 6). Who will have the guts to make health care a campaign issue? Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.),  p. 13. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Socialized medicine sick. (2003, June 27). [Opinion]. Deseret News, p. A18. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Hillarycare's demise in Oregon. (2002, November 20). [Editorial]. The Washington Times, p. A20. Retrieved from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Sampedro, J. & Norris, G. (2002, August). North American health system leads neighbors in the South by example. Managed Healthcare Executive, 12(8), 34. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

 

Demand Management

Durham, N. (2002, August 5). GP contract must tackle demand. GP: General Practitioner, pg. 15. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database.

Chapple, A. & Rogers, A. (1999, November). 'Self-care' and its relevance to developing demand management strategies: A review of qualitative research. Health & Social Care in the Community, 7(6), 445. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database.

Kastens, J. (1998, November/December). Integrated care management: Aligning medical call centers and nurse triage services. Nursing Economic$, 16(6), 320. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database.

Zweifler, J. (2007). The missing link: Improving quality with a chronic disease management intervention for the primary care office. Annals of Family Medicine, 5(5), 453. Retrieved from the Directory of Open Access Journals database.

Wharam, J.F., et al. (2007, March 14). Emergency department use and subsequent hospitalizations among members of a high-deductible health plan. JAMA, 297(10), 1093. Also see: Grudzen, C.R. & Brook, R.H. (2007, March 14). High-deductible health plans and emergency department use. [Editorial]. JAMA, 297(10), 1126. Request at Stewart Library Reference Desk.

 

Total Health Care Expenditures

Fong, T., (2003, June 16). Pointing fingers. Modern Healthcare. 33(24), 8. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Snyderman, R. & Williams, R., (2003, May 26). The new prevention, Modern Healthcare, 33(21), 19. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Fong, T., (2003, March 3). Things aren't getting better. Modern Healthcare. 33(9), 6.

Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Fong, T., (2003, February 24). Supply and demandModern Healthcare, 33(8), 10. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Gaffney, M. & Zimmerman, M., (2002, November 11). An old-fashioned way to control costsModern Healthcare. 32(45), 32. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Health-care costs: The painful truth. (2002, October 23) Business Week Online. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com.

Reilly, P., (2002, September 30). The driving forces behind soaring healthcare costsModern Healthcare. 32(39), 8. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Kocakulah, M. & Joseforsky, H., (2002, Spring). Wellness programs: A remedy for reducing healthcare costsHospital Topics 80(2), 26. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Duff, S., (2002, March 18). Up, up and away. Modern Healthcare. 32(11), 11. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Wechsler, J., (2002, March). Payer reap rewards of new drug spending over the long haul. Managed Healthcare Executive. 12(3), 9. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Serota, S., (2002, February 11). The path to affordability Modern Healthcare. 32(6), 25. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Benko, L., (2002, January 28). Blues probes cost of careModern Healthcare. 32(4), 12. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Lovern, E., (2002, January 14). Picking up speedModern Healthcare. 32(2), 12. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Jacobzone, S. & Oxley, H., (2001, November) Healthcare expenditure:  A future in question. The OECD Observer. 229, 15. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Wechsler, J., (2001, November). Hospital costs boost healthcare spendingManaged Healthcare Executive. 11(10), 7. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Healthcare expenditures up, operating margins erode [in Industry Scan]. (2001, August). Healthcare Financial Management. 55(8), 23. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Coile, R. & Trusko, B., (1999, August). Healthcare 2020: Challenges of the millennium. Health Management Technology, 20(7), 34. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

 

Systems Thinking

Anderson, R. & McDaniel R, Jr., (2000, Winter). Managing health care organizations: Where professionalism meets complexity science. Health Care Management Review. 25(1), 83. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Ashmos, D., Duchon D., & McDaniel R., (2000, Winter). Physicians and decisions: A simple rule for increasing connections in hospitals. Health Care Management Review. 25(1), 109. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Ashmos, D.P., Huonker, J.W. & McDaniel, R.R. (1998). Participation as a complicating mechanism: The effect of clinical professional and middle manager participation on hospital performance. Health Care Management Review. 23(4), 7. Direct link to article.

McDaniel R, Jr., Jordan M., & Fleeman B., (2003, July-September). Surprise, surprise, surprise! A complexity science view of the unexpected. Health Care Management Review. 28(3), 266. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Peirce, J.C. (2000, Winter). The paradox of physicians and administrators in health care organizations. Health Care Management Review. 25(1), 7. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Plsek, P.E. & Wilson, T. (2001). Complexity science: Complexity, leadership, and management in healthcare organizations. British Medical Journal. 323(7315), 746. Retrieved from PubMed Central database.

Ethics

Animal or human (2006). New Scientist. 191(2564), 7. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Andrews, L.W. (2005). The nexus of ethics. HRMagazine. 50(8), 52. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Carosella, E.D. & Pradeu, T. (2006). Transplantation and identity: A dangerous split. Lancet. 368(9531), 183. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Orlikoff, J.E. & Totten, M.K. (2006). Conflict of interest and governance. Healthcare Executive. 21(5), 52. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Romar, E.J. (2004). Managerial harmony: The Confucian ethics of Peter F. Drucker. Journal of Business Ethics. 51(2), 199. Retreived from ABI/INFORM Global database.

Stango, M.R. (2006). Ethics, morals, and integrity focus at the top. Healthcare Financial Management. 60(6), 50. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Weintraub, A. (2006, January 16). What's ethical and what isn't? Business Week. 3967, 76. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.


Need Additional Help?

When searching for materials, try a variety of databases- ask a librarian for suggestions based on your topic.  Remember- different databases will have different coverage, and will look a little different.  One good strategy is to try to find one or two GOOD articles- once you've found them, look at the terms they use, and try another search using those terms. 

GET STARTED EARLY!  If you can find it, we can get it, but you need to start your research early.  You might find some really great stuff that is not available in full text, or articles from journals that we don't have access to.  If this is the case, all you have to do is use our Interlibrary Loan service, and it will be sent to the WSU library for you to pick up.    These things might take a few days or a week.

 

If you STILL can't find exactly what you need, or have questions...

  • CALL the Reference desk at:  626-6514
  • CLICK on the Live assistance button for real time help during library hours.
  • Email us at  refdesk@weber.edu
  • or COME IN! The Reference Desk is on the middle level of the library.


Updated October 8, 2007 . Please send comments to Megan Davis
Weber State University, Stewart Library. Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved.