Take This Book to the Hospital with You

The customer was very pleased with this book. I was pleased with the seller.

The author has written a number of very good books on the subject of health care value. This is no exception. The bookplaces great value in reviewing hospital bills in detail to detect unnecessary charges and areas where generic drugs could provide cheaper alternatives over the long term. In addition,the institution you choose should have a good nosomial infectionrecord . Many patients die from the disease they contract in thehospital rather than the condition upon entry. Some patientsactually have family members that get jobs in the hospital tooversee loved ones and take advantage of benefits and reduced employee costs. Board certification is another important item forthe treating physicians and surgeons. Perhaps there is no greaterbenefit to the patient than having a comprehensive knowledgeof the condition being treated and the alternative treatmentmodalities whether conventional or alternative medicine.Wise utilization of the ambulatory care centers and outpatientclinics are another important set of options for patients.Conditions requiring continuous monitoring and post-followupreviews are best treated in the outpatient care centers.This volume is a treasure chest of medicinal information pertinent to any medical consumer. The work is a good valueat the price charged.

I'm preparing to have surgery in a month or so and have read MANY books on being the hospital, what to expect, etc. This book manages to combine all the "patient's rights/protect yourself" information with some very concrete questions to ask of the hospital administration when evaluating a facility. The appendix also has wonderful forms you can use for keeping track of who gives you what when, since after reading this book, you will inevitably be checking your bill with a magnifying glass (and finding numerous mistakes, as 98.5% of all hospital bills contain them, according to the author). Since this book is endorsed by the People's Medical Society, a non-profit consumer organization that I think has ties to the Rodale Foundation, it's nice to know that the revisions of this volume have input from previous readers sharing their experiences (and how the book helped them in their own hospital experience). I feel that I will be a better patient and advocate for myself as a result of reading it - and I definitely plan to bring it to the hospital!

This book makes all the difference. Hospital staff don't tell you anything about the system. They don't have the time and they don't want you to know, anyway. The information in here made sure my father had the best care possible. Like the first reviewer said, having it in your hand and on the table in the patient's room changes the care for the better. This book is invaluable. I wore mine out while in the hospital and could quote from it.

This is clearly the most important book I own. Talk about helping consumers, Inlander and Weiner really take you inside a hospital stay and show you not to become a victim. I brought this book to the hospital with me and kept it hidden the first two days. On the third day, I took it out and they started treating me totally different. All of a sudden they were worried that I knew my rights and how to make things happen. My whole treatment improved and I felt like I was no longer in custody. This is a book everyone should keep on their shelf