Product Description

Almost five years after the original publication of Dr. Lebow's authoritative dissection of America's health care "system", the situation has in many ways deteriorated. More Americans lack any health insurance, costs continue to increase faster than income, and increasing complexity is overwhelming everyone involved.
In revising this book, Dr. C. Rocky White has included recent developments in the field, and updated the relevant statistics. The bibliography has been expanded to include recently published articles, books and givernment documents. For the most part, however, Dr. LeBow's text has proved to be as timely now as it was upon initial publication in 2002.
With a presidential election coming in 2008, Health Care Meltdown, in its revised edition, will be an essential reference for citizens of all political persuasions. There is little doubt that the failures of America's health care "system" will be a major issue as political campaigns heat up.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168853 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-10
• Released on: 2007-07-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780911469301
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
“A necessary acquisition for all libraries.”
Starred review, Library Journal

“A timely book for the present and future problems facing the health care system in the US…Recommended.”
Choice, a publication of the American Library Association.

About the Author
Dr. Bob Lebow has dedicated his entire life to practicing medicine, serving indigent patients, and fighting for single-payer health care. Before his cycling accident in the summer of 2002, Dr. LeBow was a family practitioner (including obstetrics) and was also board certified in general preventive medicine. Since 1972 he had been Medical Director of Terry-Reilly Health Centers, a group of community health centers in southwest Idaho that served a largely low-income, Hispanic population. He was the first man to cycle across Tibet; a Peace Corps physician in Bolivia, and has worked in over 20 countries worldwide, helping to develop primary care health systems. Dr. LeBow was one of the authors of Idaho's 1992 single-payer legislation, and has run for the Idaho state legislature three times. He is a prolific writer with frequent essays on the need for universal coverage. He currently resides in Philadelphia with his family where he is recovering from his life-changing injuries.

Customer Reviews

A Wealth of Clues to What is Wrong With Our Health System
This book is is very timely and amazingly lucid on a topic seen by many as beyond comprehension. LeBow has sifted through the complexity and pinpointed the key players and the major causes of a system that has "melted down" - i.e. become dysfunctional for millions of Americans. The book documents how vested interests - people who make a great deal of money by maintaining the status quo - have systematically worked to keep Americans clueless about the extent of the health care meltdown, the causes of the meltdown, and the real story about feasible alternatives. One of the greatest values of the book is found in the opening chapter that identifies and examines thirteen myths that have been perpetuated about the American health care system. LeBow's contention is, quite correctly, that unless these myths get debunked, Americans are not likely to have the necessary will to fix the system. In fact, one of the myths is that old adage "We don't need to fix what isn't broken" applies to our health care system. LeBow's personal accounts of patients' experiences with our system illustrate poignantly just how broken it is. Fortunately, LeBow goes beyond the compelling critique to offer a solution, in the form of a single-payer, single risk-pool model. Recognizing the extent to which interest groups have propagandized the American public against such a model, he argues effectively that this is the ONLY model that will allow this country to resolve its access problems without spending even more on health care than we do already. His arguments are strong, his personal illustrations reinforce his points in well-chosen fashion, and he offers hope for something better. His book is somewhat of a primer for those who are motivated to work for change at a grass roots level, as well as at a macro level. And the reading is easy, on a complicated subject, including nice tight summaries of key points at the end of each chapter. Very worthwhile reading.

Excellent Classroom Textbook
As an Adjunct instructor in the Concordia University system, I have had the opportunity to encourage my MBA students to read this book for my Special Topics in Health care class. After reviewing other possible textbooks during the last 6 months, I have decided to now use this text as the basis for my 8-week adult education class. Offering ample examples and 'myths' that portray our fractured health care system of today, this author has summarily provided a springboard for ongoing conversations and possible answers for this country. Granted all, the HC system will not be corrected for some time, but an accounting will be made when the public becomes a focused participant at the table.
As health care professionals, it is our responsibility to study, learn, participate and educate others, as well as ourselves.
This will begin that process and it will be well worth your effort and consideration.
Thank you
ESchwarz, RN, MBA, CCM

American Health Care Dissected: Engaging and Informative
In more than 20 years teaching a course focusing on analysis of American health care history and policy, I have yet to discover a more persuasive diagnosis of our health care delivery system's ills or a more convincing case for how to cure them. Dr. Lebow brings to this examination direct experience as a practicing physician from which he draws numerous stirring personal accounts. To his clinical perspective, he adds an extraordinary command of the broader economic and political issues essential for understanding the context and causes of America's current health care crisis epitomized by the alarming number of our country's uninsured--now about 44 million and growing. The book is honest, engaging, and sure to stimulate discussion with its clear prescription for change. With lively prose and strategically placed humor, he makes complex matters understandable. His humanity and passion are the earmarks of a brilliant teacher. Regardless of how deeply you presently understand America's health care system, you can learn from this book. And regardless of your political inclinations in respect to his advocacy of a single-payer solution, you can't ignore his meticulous presentation of the facts or the relentless logic of his conclusions from them.