Healthcare: It Mostly Works

Technology is changing the practice of medicine in dramatic ways, both positive and negative. There are those who are comfortable with the evolution of technology, and there are those who are not. Technology can be an important tool to reduce errors and improve outcomes, if it is used correctly and built upon accurate information and, more importantly, is equally easy to use whether you are a technology-averse person or the most technologically savvy. We are all smart in different ways, and the most caring nurse or doctor may find the forced format of computer commands to be confusing, making what is designed to be a life-saving tool into something altogether different.

When you cross the threshold into a hospital, regardless of your role, you may not be at your best, confused by the concern over your health or the health of a loved one. Your outcomes are not the responsibility of one person, but the responsibility of a very large team of people, many of whom you will never meet, and you should take an active role in understanding everything that is happening, to the extent possible.

The book provides an overview of much of what happens in a hospital beyond the patients' active involvement, with the goal of helping patients and their families understand what is happening around them and to assist the hospital in delivering better outcomes. Active participation in the process is more important than ever.