Monday, October 29, 2018

Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital; Eric Manheimer, M.D.



AUTHOR: Eric Manheimer, M.D.
PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing
PUB. YEAR: 2012
SETTING:  NYC
FORMAT:  - library
RATING: 3.5/5 stars

Twelve Patients is a memoir and more written by the former (13) year medical director of Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in NYC.  This story was the inspiration for the new 2018, weekly medical series, New Amsterdam, which we've been watching and enjoying.

As Manheimer is put in charge with getting the medical team and hospital back on track, he a;p learns he has cancer and is forced to deal with his own illness. In addition to his story we read the stories of (12) different patients in medical crisis, Many of the stories involve individuals who never benefited from preventative health services before their situations reached too critical to cure levels. From prison inmates, illegal immigrants, the homeless and even a Wall Street executive, were just some of the stories Manheimer shares. Some of these stories end well, some do not, but, it was easy to be drawn into lives of these patients. 

Overall, this was a decent read,  even though I found the details about government regulations and drug companies a little dry and less interesting than the rest of the book. If you like non-fiction or stories of medical crises, try this one.

9 comments:

  1. I do like nonfiction so I'd be willing to try this.

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    1. It was interesting, but, maybe could have benefited by a little editing.

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  2. This sounds like one I might like. Will see if my library has it...

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    1. I know you like audios, and, I noticed that this is read by author - sometimes a good thing and other times not!

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  3. OH! I've been hearing about this book and interviews with the author but didn't realize it was the inspiration for New Amsterdam. We've been watching it, too, and even though we thought we didn't have room for another medical show (we also watch Grey's and The Resident), we've gotten sucked in and are enjoying it.

    Sue

    Book By Book

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    1. Sue, we love the medical shows as well and watch: The Good Doctor, The Residents and now New Amsterdam. Thank goodness for DVRs LOL)

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  4. Sounds like a good one. I like medical stories.

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  5. Even though I am not that fond of doctors and could never be a nurse, I am fascinated by medical stories. This one sounds particularly good.

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  6. This sounds intriguing, but I don't know about all the dry details of government regulations and drug companies. Maybe I'll just try the show. I love medical dramas, but it's been a long time since I've watched any. I think I'm about 10 seasons behind with Grey's Anatomy. ;)

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