Mary was admitted to a tertiary hospital for open heart surgery. The surgery did not go well and had to be repeated the following day. Then her physician placed her in a drug induced coma for 10 days, transferred to a specialty care hospital for a month where she contracted what could have been a terminal infection and was placed on fifteen different medications that had her in a near vegetative state. These drugs had been prescribed by five different, independent physicians who had not checked the necessary drug interaction information.

All of this proved, once again, that the system is broken. We are treating organs, not people. As the patient's advocate, we had Mary weaned from the majority of these dangerous and mostly unnecessary drugs, lobbied for her for physical therapy, and helped nurture her back to health. Exactly one year later, she is at her daughter's home and doing just fine.

First Name:

Last Name:

E-Mail:

Comments: Type comments here.

Nick
F. NICHOLAS JACOBS is President of a hospital and founder of a molecular research institute, Nick has been a senior leader in health care for over 20 years. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a board member on the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and has been a speaker for Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, the American Hospital Association, and the American College of Heatlhcare Executives. Prior to entering the health care arena, he was a professional trumpet player and music educator, served as president of a convention and visitors bureau and executive director of an arts organization.

About Taking the Hell Out of Healthcare

"With twenty years in health care administration, Nick Jacobs brings directly to the patients and their families the information essential to comprehend the nuances of the complex quagmire of experiences that make up the American healthcare system. Jacobs is truly a committed patient advocate, and this book is a must read."

Dr. Dean Ornish, Founder, Preventative Medicine Research Institute

----------------------------

"I hope I never have to use all the tremendously practical, caring information Nick Jacobs has put into this important book. But in case I do I kept reading, as page after page gave me new understanding on our health care system that had been mysterious or frightening. If you or anyone you care about is facing a hospital stay, read this book. It will give you education, security, and most importantly, hope."

Bruce Cryer, President and CEO, HeartMath, co-author, From Chaos to Coherence: The Power to Change Performance

----------------------------

"Nick Jacobs' long experience in American healthcare pays off for patients and their loved ones who want to know the best way to advocate for themselves in today's healthcare maze. A critical read for anyone who wants to get the most out of their healthcare journey."

Craig D. Shriver, MD FACS Colonel MC, General Surgery Director, and Principal Investigator - Clinical Breast Care Project, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

----------------------------

"Nick Jacobs provides a clear guidebook to those of us who find ourselves in a hospital. He poses the questions that we should be asking --but often forget to and answers them in plain English so that we can enter the strange world of medicine with greater comfort and less anxiety-- then go home again feeling not only cured, but good."

Paul F. Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

----------------------------

"Nick Jacobs has dedicated his life to improving the lives of others. His unique, seasoned inside look into hospitals will arm you with the information to get the best health care for you and your family."

Tony Chen, Founder of Hospitalimpact.org

----------------------------

"Nick Jacobs likes being Nick Jacobs, and that is a very good thing for hundreds of hospital staff and patients at Windber Medical Center. His is a special kind of ego that says he can do better by his patients and staff than just about anyone else. That's no idle boast. See for yourself. His brand of management has done very good things for all concerned. Learn for yourself. Read on."

Zane Knauss, Publicist and Writer

----------------------------

"Taking the Hell Out of Healthcare provides the patient with a practical (and sometimes humorous) view on how to navigate the healthcare system. Don't leave home without it!"

Beth Bierbower, Vice President Product Innovation, Humana Inc.

		First Name: Last Name: E-Mail: Comments: Type comments here.
	F. NICHOLAS JACOBS is President of a hospital and founder of a molecular research institute, Nick has been a senior leader in health care for over 20 years. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a board member on the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and has been a speaker for Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, the American Hospital Association, and the American College of Heatlhcare Executives. Prior to entering the health care arena, he was a professional trumpet player and music educator, served as president of a convention and visitors bureau and executive director of an arts organization.