Book Review - Obama, Doctors, and Health Reform (IUniverse.2009)

By Janet M. Crozier, Actin Public Library, Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Prelude: Among the most popular and frequently visited public sites are America’s public libraries. For good reason. The libraries are neutral public grounds, and they have adapted to the times by offering Internet access, video tapes, public meeting rooms, magazines, newspapers, and, of course, the old staple – books. Furthermore libraries have created library networks, from which you can get almost any book on the market. Part of the selection process for books are book reviews by librarians published in library journals. Here is a review of my book.

Review

Reece, MD, Richard L. Obama, Doctors, and Health Reform. iUniverse, June 17, 2009. c. 291 pages.Index. ISBN: 978-1-4401-4676-3.$21.95 PB

Reece (And Who Shall Care for the Sick?, Managed-Care Memoir, The Seven (C’s) of Physician-Hospital Relationship, Voices of Health Care Reform, Navigating the Medical Maze, Innovation-Driven Health Care) returns to familiar ground with his latest on health care reform.

This time, the author is not necessarily trying to prove that health care is necessary but discusses the chances of success by President Barak Obama getting a national health-care bill passed. Additionally, challenges us to define our future ”patient centered” medical care. What will we have to do to get the personal care that we expect in a time of doctor shortage, high medical insurance costs, and myriad of choices that we do not understand?

President Barack Obama is attempting to provide medical services to all. Can he prevail against an industry that seeks to regulate doctors and hospitals to be more efficient but not to make progress in curing man's ills but treat the patient as fast as possible and be paid quickly?

Reece looks at the health care problem from several perspectives: health care agent, family physician, a woman doctor, surgeon, AARP, and others. These help shed light on a very confusing topic that the ordinary person needs to make an informed decision about your medical care future.. Is there any answer? Successful ideas are presented but each has its unique set of obstacles that can be overcome but will one plan work for a whole country? As deciders of our future medical care, we are presented with information necessary to make the best decision for our families and ourselves. We then, hopefully, will have a personal physician in our future. Recommended for public libraries.

Janet M. Crozier, Acton Public Library, Old Saybrook Connecticut.