The Bottom Line
Patients will find this book to be a good cross between "inside information" they may find useful and good health and medical care common sense. Understanding the heirarchy that exists among doctors, and how that affects one's care, is emphasized. For patients anticipating a hospital stay, there is some good basic information.
Pros
- Dr. Gallin was a patient herself and based her book on problems she encountered
- Good overview of where breakdowns in healthcare can occur
- Very good checklists to use to help you communicate with your doctor
- Very good overview of what she calls "invisible doctors" and why they are important
Cons
- Few patients have the "connections" that Gallin has (she is an MD herself)
- There is a great deal of emphasis on hospitals and surgery, which may not apply to the reader
Description
- Author: Pamela F. Gallin, MD, FACS
- Publisher: Lifeline Press
- Year Published: 2003
- ISBN: 978-0895261205
- Hardcover Price: $19.95
- Softcover: Not Available
- 256 pages
Guide Review - Book Review of How to Survive Your Doctor's Care, by Pamela F. Gallin, MD, FACS
After a close call with a medical disaster, Gallin learned to use the healthcare system to get the answers and care she needed.
Based on her experiences, she wrote her book as a guideline for other patients. Throughout the book, she emphasizes ways to avoid mistakes in order to “emerge unscathed from the medical care maze.”
There is a lot of emphasis placed on doctors and their points of view. This can be invaluable information for effective communications.
Patients will find this book helpful if they remember that Gallin's medical training, and experience in the hospital she was treated in, provided her with the background understanding -- and connections -- she needed.
