Taking the Pulse of the U.S. Health Care System

This book's purpose was to find out how people across the United States felt about their health care. In that effort, the author interviewed hundreds of people-male or female, retired or working, ill or well, health professional or not-and was shocked by the disdain with which most of those questioned view our health care system. Their opinions are a large part of this book. What has happened to a once-great health system often proclaimed by many as best in the world? The author consulted dozens of experts present both when the system as created as well as those working in the field today. The trail of blame, in their opinions, leads to politicians, doctors, lawyers, pharmaceutical giants, HMOs, hospitals, and other health providers who they declare have lined their pockets at the public's expense. This book tries to answer the questions, "HOW DID IT HAPPEN?" and "IF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, HOW CAN WE FIX IT?"