HOW TO BE A PATIENT

Practical medical advice from a veteran registered nurse and public health advocate.

In the preface, Goldberg, who was raised by an obstetrician, sympathizes with the plight of dissatisfied people who inevitably find the pursuit of quality health care “confusing, chaotic, and defeating.” She admits to loving her chosen profession, but she has periodically lost faith in the way it functions and has become “acutely aware of the fractures in our medical infrastructure by witnessing things fall through them everywhere from community clinics to operating rooms.” She has seen family members undergo unnecessary chemotherapy, have serious ailments be misdiagnosed, and even file for bankruptcy because of insurmountable medical bills. With an amiable approach and easily digestible truths and tools, Goldberg seeks to alleviate at least some of the exasperation felt by patients. Her guide contains up-to-date medical information, dispensed with the goal of improving an average patient’s “health literacy.” Beginning with the basics of choosing a primary care provider and assembling a medical history dossier, the author addresses such topics as managing annual physicals, strategies for talking to doctors to maximize the benefits of each visit, and weathering routine procedures and diagnoses. With clear, swiftly delivered guidance, Goldberg discusses medical maladies both common and chronic, and her tone remains approachable yet professional, particularly when exploring the dynamics of urgent care visits versus emergency room treatment, hospital stays, vaccines, and pediatric and geriatric care. A clear-cut section on modern medicine helps patients navigate pain, encourages health advocacy for transgender patients, and tackles the variances in gender-specific medicine. Goldberg also includes tips on rights and responsibilities regarding insurance as well as a brief closing section describing five common patient types. Though the book is not a comprehensive health manual, Goldberg ably navigates the contemporary pathways of health self-advocacy and empowers readers to incorporate her sound advice into their own wellness objectives.

A plainspoken, universally applicable medical reference guide inspiring patient agency.