Critical Condition: How Health Care in America Became Big Business-and Bad Medicine
Donald L Barlett & James B Steele
Physical
AvailableWhat will you learn from this book
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Commercialization of Healthcare: Explores how the American healthcare system has transformed into a profit-driven industry, focusing on financial gain rather than patient care.
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Rising Costs and Affordability: Discusses the escalating costs of healthcare services, medications, and insurance premiums, affecting affordability for many Americans.
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Inadequate Insurance Coverage: Highlights the challenges faced by individuals due to inadequate insurance coverage, leaving many without essential healthcare access.
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Pharmaceutical Industry Influence: Explores the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on healthcare policies, drug pricing, and access to medications.
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Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety: Discusses concerns related to healthcare quality, medical errors, and patient safety within the system.
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Inequality in Access to Care: Examines disparities in healthcare access based on socio-economic status, race, and geographic location.
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Government Policies and Regulation: Explores the role of government policies, regulations, and healthcare reforms in shaping the current state of the healthcare system.
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Physician and Hospital Practices: Investigates billing practices, overuse of medical procedures, and the influence of financial incentives on healthcare delivery.
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Patient Advocacy and Empowerment: Discusses the importance of patient advocacy, education, and empowerment in navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.
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Need for Systemic Change: Advocates for comprehensive systemic changes aimed at improving healthcare affordability, accessibility, and quality for all Americans.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0767910753 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780767910750 |
| No of pages | 279 |
| Font Size | Medium |
| Book Publisher | Doubleday |
| Published Date | 11 Oct 2005 |
About Author
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Award-winning journalists expose the horrific practices within America’s health care system, profiling patients and doctors and offering startling personal stories to illuminate what’s gone wrong.
“Every American ought to read this book.”—The Plain Dealer
Tens of millions of people with inadequate or no medical coverage . . . dirty examination and operating rooms in doctors’ offices and hospitals . . . more people killed by mistakes than by many diseases. This may sound like the predicament of a failed state, but this is America’s health care reality today.
The United States spends more per capita on health care than any other nation, yet benefits are shrinking and life expectancy here is shorter than in countries that spend significantly less. Meanwhile, HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, and hospital chains reap tremendous profits, as our elected politicians, beholden to these same companies, enact piecemeal measures that lead to needless deaths, refusing to come to grips with a system on the verge of collapse.
A superb investigative work that is enormously compelling and addresses the concerns of every American, Critical Condition offers an insightful prescription for getting the system back on the right track.