"This book is an outstanding source for understanding the forces acting on American health care, the conflicts they create, and the strategies for productively dealing with them." (Edward A. Dauer, president, National Center for Preventive Law; dean emeritus, University of Denver College of Law)

"I turn to Renegotiating Health Care as a regular reference and guide. The changes and challenges in health care today require a proficient understanding of the pragmatic and tactful methods taught in this book." (Karen Shoos Lipton, J.D., chief executive officer, American Association of Blood Banks)

"The ample use of clear and relevant examples to illustrate principles and techniques make this book a powerful learning tool. Professionals reading it will surely find many of their own life experiences reflected in the series of stories." (Journal of the American Nursing Association)

"Renegotiating Health Care offers a set of practical tools for navigating the turbulent waters of health care collaboration. Since change is as certain as conflict, skill at eliciting commitment to a shared purpose and orchestrating efforts to achieve it is an essential quality of leadership." (American Journal of Public Health)

"The health care sphere we inhabit would unquestionably be more satisfying if everyone adopted the cooperative techniques taught in this book." (New England Journal of Medicine)

"The best thing I can say about a book is that it is interesting, and this one qualifies. Yes, it has a lot of theory, but it is beautifully fleshed out with vivid real or hypothetical case studies. These make the book very practical in spite of its conceptual basis." (Barbara Barnum, RN, Ph.D., Editor, Nursing Leadership Forum)

"Altogether this is a fun book, which is also practical and has some new ideas. I think both new and old managers will get something from it." (Barbara Barnum, RN, Ph.D., Editor, Nursing Leadership Forum)

Book Description
The health care sphere we inhabit would unquestionably be more satisfying if everyone adopted the cooperative techniques taught in this book.
--New England Journal of Medicine

Renegotiating Health Care presents pragmatic and effective tools for understanding conflict, negotiating differences, and creating a workable balance among those who deliver, receive, administer, and oversee health care. The authors present practical methods and techniques giving all the players the knowledge and skills they need to put their work in perspective and create workable solutions.

From the Inside Flap
For all who work in health care, the daily routine requires constant negotiation of conflict. Decisions affecting numerous people must be made. Competing priorities have to be balanced. And there is constant pressure that the job be done correctly, often within strict time limits. This book offers a practical guide to help better understand conflict, negotiate choices, and build systems to improve the processes of decision making. Renegotiating Healthcare takes successful negotiation and conflict resolution concepts developed over the past ten years and sets them in current day health care settings. Through narrative, example, and theory, the book gives all the players in health care—physicians, hospital management, nurses, and public health and public policy leaders—the knowledge and skills they need to put things in perspective and work out problems in an arena where issues, authority, and responsibility are still unclear. back jacket[headline] A Practical Guide to Collaboration [set prominently] "The health care sphere we inhabit would unquestionably be more satisfying if everyone adopted the cooperative techniques taught in this book." —New England Journal of MedicineRenegotiating Health Care presents pragmatic and effective tools for understanding conflict, negotiating differences, and creating a workable balance among those who deliver, receive, administer, and oversee health care. The authors present practical methods and techniques giving all the players the knowledge and skills they need to put their work in perspective and create workable solutions. "Renegotiating Health Care highlights key skills of public health practice. It is an excellent book for those who aspire to leadership."—Deborah Prothrow-Stith, M.D., associate dean, Harvard School of Public Health" I turn to Renegotiating Health Care as a regular reference and guide. The changes and challenges in health care today require a proficient understanding of the pragmatic

From the Back Cover
This award-winning book takes the most current negotiation and conflict resolution concepts and applies them to present-day health case settings. Through the use of lively narrative, illustrative examples, and up-to-date theory, the authors offer those in the health care profession the knowledge and skills they need to resolve their problems. A how-to guide written for all the players—physicians, nurses, managers, administrators—in health care.

About the Author
LEONARD J. MARCUS, Ph.D., is founding director of the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Harvard School of Public Health. BARRY C. DORN, M.D., is clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Tufts New England Medical Center and associate director of the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at The Harvard School of Public Health. PHYLLIS B. KRITEK, R.N., Ph.D., is professor of nursing and Doctoral Program Director, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston School of Nursing. VELVET G. MILLER, M.P.A., Ph.D., is former director of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services of the New Jersey Department of Human Services. JANICE B. WYATT, M.S., is chief executive officer of HCNA (Health Care Negotiation Associates) and former president and chief executive officer of the Metro West Medical Center and vice chancellor and hospital director for the UMASS Medical Center.

Rating 5.0

Must Reading for Health Care Executives

Dr. Marcus is the nation's leading expert in health care negotiations and conflict resolution, having helped numerous high-profile organizations overcome conflicts and reach mutually productive agreements. This book thoughtfully conveys this valuable expertise.

Excellent principles for conflict resolution

Marcus teaches us that conflict is not only always present and unavoidable but can be used as a catalyst for good change. He describes differences in types of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. He is a proponent of interest-based negotiation which is an attempt to improve the lot of the whole by improving the parts. He advocates active listening.

As witness to his sincerity, he dedicates a chapter each to four of the healthcare stakeholders: policymakers, healthcare management, physicians, and nurses. Each of these chapters speaks loudest to its own stakeholder, at once representing them and persuading them to enter into negotiation.

Postitional bargaining is also explored. Marcus does not advocate being a sacrificial lamb.

This book serves as an excellent introduction to the topic of conflict resolution and negotiation. However, in order to engage into the fray, one would also need to continue to study and practice the principles presented.

Although Marcus seems preachy at times and overhopeful at others, he is at least starting to draw the diverse and strong healthcare industry into one place to sit and talk. Hooray for that.