1 stars (Essentials of Health Care Finance) - I bought the book of Essentials of Health Care Finance, it was delivered on time, however, some papers insided the book are very dirty, I can see the brown oily figure prints. I wish that I can exchange the book ... 4 stars (Troubling Guide to Alien Territory) - This books offers a broad coverage of health care topics for a non-financial person. It is most deeply flawed for its inability to communicate clearly to a lay person. Essentially it is a vocabulary primer of important financial principles and concepts. It requires abstract thinking and the ability to follow mathematical models. This reader studied Cleverly's text as a requirement for a healthcare finance class. The text was frustrating as this reader attempted to "know" everything about healthcare finances; however, this is probably not the intent of the book. It does present a road into the foreign land of finances. It demands respect for another set of data and another language for interpreting that data. One does not master this data set at one pass, however. Nevertheless, this reader did gain some new financial information. At the risk of being simplistic, but communicative; a listing of some of the concepts learned follows: 1. There are many users of financial information. 2. Financial information can guide the formation of programs. 3. Financial management is essential for successful healthcare organizations. 4. Various qualities of health care organization types. 5. How health care organizations make up for discouting and bad debt and capitated payments. 6. General principles of accounting and why they are important. Also that these principles still need to be explained, to be consistent, and to be clarified. 7. Overview of four main types of financial statements with a brief explanation of vaious line items. 8. That financial planning includes considering inflation before it happens, and for equipment etc. to break and wear out before it breaks ... Jones and Bartlett Publishers Inc :: Health & Fitness & Health Care Issues :: Practice Management & Reimbursement :: Medical Economics :: Medical & Nursing :: Medical :: Hospital Administration :: He :: Essentials of Health Care Finance- Fifth Edition