Richard L. Clarke

Written for health care leaders at all levels, Beyond Managed Care identifies and assesses the key factors most likely to influence the future market for health care services-such as consumer empowerment through the Internet and the increasing demands of the aging baby boomer population-and shows providers what adjustments can be made in order to thrive in this emerging environment. The authors analyze the factors driving health care costs such as changing demographics, new medical technology, genetic and new drug research, and payment system models. The book clearly shows that organizations that are able to take organizations to the next value-added level--by providing quality, access, service, innovation, and lower costs--will be the winners.

Braden and his coauthors give a comprehensive overview of the use of polymers and polymer composites as dental materials. These comprise polyelectrolyte based materials, elastomers, glassy and crystalline polymers and fibres. Such materials are used in dentistry as restorative materials, hard and soft prostheses, and impression materials. The chemistry of materials is reviewed, together with mechanical, thermal, visco-elastic and water solution properties. These properties are related to clinical performance, with emphasis on some of the difficulties inherent in developing materials for oral use. Indications are given of possible future developments.