Accounting Fundamentals for Health Care Management

Preface

The complexity of today’s health care system and the

seemingly constant change in national health policy have

brought with them a need for all managers and executives to

have a solid understanding of accounting. This book is geared

toward the student or current health care manager who needs a

basic grounding in financial accounting and analysis within health

care organizations. It is presented from the basic premise that

knowledge of accounting is beneficial, regardless of a person’s

primary focus within the health care system. The operating room

nurse, the compliance officer, the physician practice manager, and

the pharmaceutical sales representative can all benefit from a

better understanding of health care accounting.

This book will not make anyone a chief financial officer. It will,

however, provide the vocabulary and introduction to the tools and

concepts employed by finance officers. It will help the nonfinancial

manager assess financial information, ask the appropriate

questions, and understand jargon-laden answers. It will also assist

board members in these same tasks, providing stronger oversight

and accountability.

To help enable the use of this book within the framework of a

health care accounting course, there are homework questions and

problems at the end of each chapter. Instructors can gain access

to the solutions, PowerPoint class notes, and other instructor

materials online.