Emotional and Interpersonal Dimensions of Health Services: Enriching the Art of Care with the Science of Care

While technological and biomedical breakthroughs have provided a remarkable array of tests, equipment, drugs, and procedures for diagnosing and treating acute diseases, modern medicine and professional health practices have not taken the same strides in the more human aspects of care. Emotional and Interpersonal Dimensions of Health Services considers ways modern health care practices could benefit from paying more attention to the science of care . Contributors examine the degree to which the provision of health care is influenced by characteristics of the health service organization, such as the administrative structure and the human resources available. They demonstrate that job satisfaction and conditions play an important role in shaping the quality and effectiveness of care and discuss the emotional support health care providers need to avoid long-term exhaustion and ensure well being. The contributors identify qualities of the client-provider interaction that lead to positive health care outcomes, such as providing information, responding to patient concerns, facilitating interactions with the health care system, and encouraging participation in personal health care and offer examples of innovative conceptual and analytical approaches to better health care practices.