Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 248
•
Trim: 6⅜ x 9½
978-1-4422-0139-2 • Hardback • January 2010 • $59.00 • (£45.00)
978-1-4422-0140-8 • Paperback • July 2011 • $16.95 • (£12.99)
978-1-4422-0141-5 • eBook • January 2010 • $56.00 • (£43.00)
Richard S. Klein, M.D., is a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine and infectious diseases. An associate professor of medicine, Dr. Klein also teaches at New York Medical College. He is the author of From Anecdote to Antidote.
Introduction
Part I: Everday Medical and Health Concerns
Chapter 1. Taking Control of Your Healthcare: Or, the Wisdom of Second and Third Opinions
Chapter 2. Insurance Companies: Organized Crime or Just Bad Policies?
Chapter 3. An Apple A Day: And Other Things to Protect Your Health When Visiting the Doctor's Office
Chapter 4. Does Your Kid Really Need That Shot?: Protecting Your Children in the System
Chapter 5. The Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs: Or Beware, the Spoonful of Sugar That Helps the 'Bad Medicine' Go Down
Chapter 6. Visiting the ER without Feeling Like a Bit Player on a TV Drama
Part II: Major Diseases and Long-Term Issues
Chapter 7. A Real Heart-to-Heart about Cardiac Care
Chapter 8. How to Handle the Big C from A to Z
Chapter 9. Baby Boom or Bust: How to Stroll through Maternity, Neonatal, and Fertiltiy Issues
Chapter 10. You Give Me Fever: Infection and Communicable Diseases
Chapter 11. How to Maintain Some Sanity in the Mental Health System
Part III: The Hospital and Major Procedures
Chapter 12. Hospital Out-Patient Visits and How to Make Sure that You Actually Get Out
Chapter 13. Hosptial Stays: As Dangerous as a War Zone?
Chapter 14. Medical Test and How to Avodi Becomding a Lab Rat
Chapter 15. Major Surgeries: Or, How to Make Sure You Still Have a Leg to Stand on Afterward
Part IV: The Future of Medicine
Chapter 16. A Cure for the Medical System
Bravo Dr. Richard Klein for exposing the dangers patients face due to negligent hospital and physician care.
— Alfred DelBello, attorney and Former Yonkers mayor, Westchester County Executive, and New York State Lieutenant Governor
This is a courageous expose of negligent practices in his own profession and serves as an important guide for people in need of medical care.
— Dee DelBello, CEO and Publisher, Westchester Business Publications
Dr. Kleins' book hits the nail on the head. The lack of quality care and the danger in many of our hospitals is a timely issue as our nation considers health care reform. It's important that everyone take control of their own health care and protect themselves against careless practitioners. His examples and advice on taking more control of one's own health care will go a long way to creating a better and safer system.
— Andrew J. Spano, County Executive, Westchester County, NY
Dr. Klein provides a practical and detailed analysis of what patients should know about the health care system, so they can become more informed health care consumers.
— William H. Frishman, New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center
This passionate and smart book is by someone who both deeply understands how sick our health care system is and what the best remedies are to make it well. The state and country need more doctor-advocates like Richard Klein.
— Mark Green, president, Air America Media, and Former NYC Public Advocate
Klein is a practicing physician who has often testified as an expert witness in cases alleging medical malpractice. From his two perspectives, he offers an insightful look at all the things that can—and often do—go wrong in medicine, from doctors inducing infection to mix-ups in patient records and prescriptions....A very valuable resource, particularly as the nation considers overhauling the health-care system.
— Booklist
With at least 100,000 hospital patients dying each year, associate professor and practicing internist Klein calls medical malpractice in the U.S. a “pandemic,” with mortality numbers comparable to “smoking, auto accidents, and pollution,” placing the U.S. behind most of Europe....Klein offers anecdotes and examples from his own career with internal and infectious medicine, as well as his experience as an expert witness in malpractice litigation, in this useful...resource.
— Publishers Weekly
Surviving Your Doctors: Why the Medical System is Dangerous to Your Health and How to Get Through it Alive describes details of various illnesses as well as what happens or can happen during an emergency room or doctor's office visit. There's plenty of information here that you won't find anywhere else. Dr. Klein tells us what we should know ahead of time and steps we should take to help insure the safety and health of our loved ones and ourselves.... This is a well written informative health book that should be on everyone's bookshelves. It might save your life.
— Midwest Book Review
Klein writes in a breezy, conversational style and includes personal stories that make it easy to understand the types of medical errors under discussion. Patients will appreciate the useful advice, and those interested in health-care policy reform will find timely information, too.
— Library Journal, Starred Review
This book is a timely and much-needed guide to getting the best care possible out of a flawed system, offering patients a prescription for maneuvering their way through the healthcare maze.... From emergency rooms to pharmacies; from surgery to doctor's office, this book reveals how things really work, what medical workers really think and how to take back control of your health and the care you receive.
— The Sunday Republican
The advice given to patients is appropriate….The central theme that patients need to do the work to keep themselves safe within the system deserves attention.
— Family Medicine
Filled with real stories of medical mishaps, anecdotes and checklists, this book will walk readers through major areas of the medical world - from the doctor's office to the pharmacy, from the laboratory to the emergency room - giving them a clearer picture of how things really work, what health care workers really think, and how to take back control of your health and the care you receive.
— Vicksburg Post