Book excerpt: A new title in the acclaimed Understanding series that focuses on the science of healthcare delivery Over the past decade, the subject of Systems Science has skyrocketed in importance in the healthcare field. With its engaging, clinically relevant style, Understanding Healthcare Delivery Science is the perfect introduction to this timely topic. It covers every aspect of what actually constitutes “best care” and how it can be most efficiently delivered from an operational standpoint. The book is exceptional for two other reasons: numerous case vignettes put the content in a clinically relevant framework, and its comprehensive coverage spans everything from quality and safety to data and policy. Readers will find a valuable opening section that delivers an outstanding introductory discussion of Healthcare Delivery Science Co-author Dr. Michael Howell is a nationally recognized expert on healthcare quality, whose research has been covered by The New York Times, CNN, and Consumer Reports. He has served on national quality- and safety-related national advisory panels for the CDC, Society of Critical Care Medicine, CMS, and others. An active healthcare delivery scientist, Dr. Howell has published more than 90 research articles, editorials, and book chapters on topics related to quality, safety, patient-centeredness, and critical care.