For Immediate Release – Stockton, CA - Medical Multimedia Learning Series, leading provider of managed care education CD-ROMS, today announced the release of The Staff Helper, Financial Fundamentals of Managed Healthcare. The Staff Helper makes the second in a series of interactive educational CD-ROMS about managed health care by industry management consultant Dennis Kirkpatrick.

Geared for health care professionals and patients alike, The Staff Helper offers an inside look at managed health care plans including how plans are arranged, who controls the process and the purse strings, and how that ultimately affects the patients. The Staff Helper explores the history of healthcare which has led to today’s managed healthcare system. A patient care section provides useful tips for those participating in programs while a physician’s section explores the business aspects of fee for service physicians and the impact of capitation has on private practice.

The Staff Helper concludes with a “Doing the Math” section which is a hands-on tutorial for calculating physician capitation, premium rates, per 1000 rates, and medical loss ratio calculations. An analysis of healthcare cost models is also included.

“Managed healthcare is a hot button in today’s society, but there are very few resources for the consumer and healthcare professional to turn to for an easy-to-understand look at the system,” said author Kirkpatrick. “The Staff Helper offers a nuts and bolts educational resource for all levels of patients, consumers, and professionals. After using The Staff Helper, people will have a more informed basis on which to make important healthcare decisions.”

Dennis Kirkpatrick was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated with both an undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of Alabama. Currently residing in Stockton, California, he has provided management consulting to a wide range of medical entities including hospitals, physician practices, employer self-funded health plans, and Independent Practice Associations. The Staff Helper, Financial Fundamentals of Managed Healthcare is visible on Bowker’s BooksInPrint.com and is available for purchase through the website www.medicalmultimedia.com. For additional information, visit www.BookWire.com where you can read an author biography as well as a professional book review for The Staff Helper. Author speaking engagements, signings, or interviews can be arranged by calling 209.462.4203 extension 42.