Dusk Jacket Hardcover (6x9) Price: $23.98 
5.0 out of 5 stars by Pushkar N. Kaul
This book is critically timely in addressing the severely compounded problems facing healthcare system in the USA that is probably the most expensive in the world. Not only does the current system leave over fifty million people without any meaningful care, but it also insults both the care giver physicians and the patient. Most of the complexities leading to the current helpless situation have occurred during the past twenty or so years that witnessed an erosion of the physicians' healthcare decision making and quality of care, an extraordinary escalation in the undeserving and uncontrolled profits of drug companies, lawyers on both sides of the malpractice suits, the insurance companies, and the "bean counters"that are self styled HMO managers who should have no place in healthcare to begin with.
Dr. Raj K. Gandhi has used his precise surgical thought process and global clinical / surgical expertise to dissect all of the key elements ailing our healthcare system. His narration of actual episodes and cases in an easy to understand language that keeps even a lay reader engaged, in spite of the cited medical terminologies that too are well explained, provides convincing evidence of the ills that have eroded our healthcare over the years.
The chapter on "Conference of Uncles" is an entertaining but remarkably effective proposition of the potential international disgrace for the USA likely to occur if the `sense of direction' of our healthcare system is not restored to what it used to be during the fifties to seventies when it was considered as one of the best in the world. In this chapter, Dr. Gandhi has given us a peep into his novelistic and dramatic abilities. These are relatively uncommon in professionals in the medical and other technical fields.
In chapter 7, Sense of Direction, Dr. Gandhi has given precise statement of the problems as well as their solutions. The solutions to each of the problems are skillfully formulated, along with their rationales. This chapter presents the book as a synopsis, which in itself is adequate enough to convince the reader of the validity of his proposed solutions that must be adopted by the federal government and all other agencies involved, in order to restore our healthcare system. Our healthcare has to be affordable by all, and one that provides care to all our fellow beings in this country from birth to final journey, regardless of sex, age, color of the skin and/or national origin.
This outstanding and timely book is a must for all federal healthcare czars, healthcare professionals, medical/ pharmacy/ dental/ nursing students about to graduate, and the pharmaceutical industry. I would rate this book at 4.5 stars for reading but 5 stars for the significance of the contents and its timeliness.
Pushkar N. Kaul
M. Pharm., F. I. C., Ph.D. (Berkeley)
A. R. A. C. I., I. E. M. (Harvard)
Professor of Biological Sciences
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA 30314
5.0 out of 5 stars by Ram G. Sidhaye
I will highly recommend this book to every one living in the
United States of America and who cares for cost effective and
efficient health care. Over the years, health costs are going
up and up and up with no end in sight.
In this book author, Dr. Gandhi, MD, a practicing surgeon for
30+ years in USA, offers bold but common sense and creative
approaches to reduce health care costs without compromising
quality of services and efficiency for all Americans.
Dr. Gandhi has written this book based on his first hand experience
in dealing with entities of all stripes offering health care
insurance, hospitals, lawyers and patients. Reading of this book
is not a drag because Dr. Gandhi narrates his experience in a
fashion of a story telling. I am convinced that if he had not
been a doctor, he would have been best-seller book writer.
Special interest groups like pharmaceutical industry; insurance
companies and others who misinform us and lobby with our elected
officials for congressional actions to benefit their interest and not
the interest of patients (i.e., you and me). No one is looking out
what is in the best interest of patients.
This book is a breath of fresh air. Dr. Gandhi has taken the lead
and has suggested bold but common sense initiatives to address the
current dire situation of health care in the United States of America.
We must support him and make sure that our elected representatives
take a serious look at suggestions made by Dr. Gandhi in his book.
I am very thankful to Dr. Gandhi for writing this book for cost
effective and efficient health care services for all Americans.
Ram Sidhaye
Norcross, GA
4.0 out of 5 stars by San Francisco Book Review
"A nation of 300 million people, the most powerful, most advanced, richest, and yet most indebted, we spend over 15% of the gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare, which is higher than anywhere else in the world, and still rank 35th on the health care scale of the World Health Organization (WHO) and manage to keep 47 million people without any health insurance coverage. Have we lost our sense of direction?" Dr. Raj Gandhi has written a startling and searing account of our health care crisis and a potential cure to go along with it.
//Sense of Direction// takes its readers through a well-guided maze, from the dark beginnings of a health condition, including the worrisome trip to the hospital emergency room, continuing through to diagnosis, treatment and then, ultimately, the chaos of billing to the patient and the health insurance company. Gandhi's writing style is engaging in that he utilizes the narrative form in the cases of his patients; the information is enhanced by an engrossing story feel, albeit highly infused with medical terminology, which I found to be overwhelming to some degree. Readers across the board will appreciate his short story technique.
Progressing through the chapters, the writing becomes more technical and reads rather like a medical journal, insurance claim, and legislative materials all wrapped into one. The subject is such a highly heated, debated, and relevant reality that it is refreshing to see not only an honest depiction at the travesty of our health-care approaches and the way our citizens are treated (or rather, left untreated), but also a thought-provoking and genuine attempt at a real solution.
The stories of Mrs. Dhareycow, Willy Joe, and even Mrs. Gandhi's stories will fill readers with agony and angst, which are often the preludes to change. This is a read for those in power: lawmakers and voters alike. This is not a lazy day read, not an easy one; it is, however, one that is worth investing in and passing along. It will enlighten, anger, and possibly move you to become part of the change this country so desperately requires.
San Francisco Book Review
San Francisco, CA