If you are healthy today, can afford health insurance and are focused on prevention, then this is a good book for you.
In my experience, though, most people in search of a book to help them be smart patients have already run into some kind of problem, either with their own health, or with the American healthcare system, or both. For these types of readers, much of this information will be too late.
- Easy to read and understand
- Good guidelines for what vaccines and screenings are important and when
- Good overview on choosing a good health insurance plan
- Good background information on body scans, medications, herbal supplements
- Written for people to read before they get sick or hurt (that rarely happens)
- Unrealistic in expectations of patients
- Publisher: Stetho Publishing
- ISBN: 978-0979351204
- Year Published: 2007
- Hardcover Price: $24.95
- Softcover Price: NA
- 263 Pages
Dr. Davis Liu is a primary care practitioner. He's written a book of advice from a doctor's point of view. There's no mention that Dr. Liu has experienced the patient side of the equation, although he has helped his family members weather some difficult medical situations.
He begins with the "spend wisely" part of his book, outlining good reasons for us to purchase the best insurance plan we can afford. He gives reasons why many people don't purchase the best insurance, but unaffordability doesn't seem to be one of them. He does mention how much insurance premiums have increased. Evidently, we're supposed to adjust our other expenditures, so we can keep affording the better plans.
The section called "Mastering the 10 Minute Office Visit" does have good information and good ideas, and wise patients will take it to heart. I must also say, however, that this chapter annoys me. Dr. Liu reminds us that doctors interrupt their patients, on average, 23 seconds into a meeting. He then explains why that happens, as if the explanation makes it acceptable. His advice is to be concise, respectful and honest. It's good advice... but....
It makes no suggestion that patients should also command respect from their doctors, perhaps asking them not to interrupt, and work toward creating a partnership. The advice seems to suggest that if there is a 10-mile communication gap between a patient and doctor, the patient is expected to walk 9.5 miles of it.
There is some good, basic information in this book: good descriptions of doctors and their expertise, and understandable guidelines for vaccines and screenings. There is also information about body scans, specialists and alternative remedies.
Unfortunately, like too many others, this is one more in a series of doctor-written books that struggle with the real patient point of view.
