The Patient's Playbook

How to Save Your Life and the Lives of Those You Love

By: Leslie D. Michelson

Narrated by: Leslie D. Michelson

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Too many Americans die each year as a result of preventable medical error—mistakes, complications, and misdiagnoses. And many more of us are not receiving the best care possible, even though it’s readily available and we’re entitled to it. The key is knowing how to access it. The Patient’s Playbook is a call to action. It will change the way you manage your health and the health of your family, and it will show you how to choose the right doctor, coordinate the best care, and get to the No-Mistake Zone in medical decision making. Leslie D. Michelson has devoted his life’s work to helping people achieve superior medical outcomes at every stage of their lives. Michelson presents real-life stories that impart lessons and illuminate his easy-to-follow strategies for navigating complex situations and cases.

The Patient’s Playbook is an essential guide to the most effective techniques for getting the best from a broken system: sourcing excellent physicians, selecting the right treatment protocols, researching with precision, and structuring the ideal support team. Along the way you will learn:

• Why having the right primary care physician will change your life
• Three things you can do right now to be better prepared when illness strikes
• The ten must-ask questions at the end of a hospital stay
• How to protect yourself from unnecessary and dangerous treatments
• Ways to avoid the four most common mistakes in the first 24 hours of a medical emergency

This book will enable you to become a smarter health care consumer—and to replace anxiety with confidence.

©2015 Leslie D. Michelson (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Trust me—you need this guide because everyone at some point faces a health crisis. Michelson details, step by crucial step, how to navigate the terrifying world of doctors, hospitals, second opinions, drug trials, and insurance so you get lifesaving results." (AARP Best Books of 2015)

"Michelson implores patients to be intensely involved in their own care.... He urges patients...to 'bring their A-game' to the doctor's office...advocat[ing] smart care, not more care." —The Wall Street Journal

"In this unique and useful book, [Michelson] maps out a plan to organize competent medical care when needed.... He provides advice and resources that help individuals become medically prepared, make sound health-care decisions, and more likely achieve favorable results.... An invaluable resource, The Patient’s Playbook can effectively assist individuals in navigating the complex and often overwhelming world of illness." —Booklist (Starred Review)

Important book and important information

Where does The Patient's Playbook rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the top

What did you like best about this story?

I like the way the author presents information about managing our own needs while in the healthcare system.

Any additional comments?

This book is so important I bought a hard copy to serve as a reference.

Everyone who sees a doctor should read

Too much "preventive" testing is being performed. Some of the even cause health problems themselves.

A must read

Read this book before something bad happens. To you or someone else. This book isn’t the book to read after it’s too late.