Understanding health care

Robert Boston

Medical student authors Nathan H. Moore and Elizabeth T. Askin

BY Diane Duke Williams

When Nathan Moore and Elisabeth Askin began medical school at Washington University School of Medicine, they were like many Americans who lack a clear understanding of the American health care system, its various components and how they fit together. After several frustrating months of trying to educate themselves, it became clear to them that a comprehensive and readable guide to the U.S. health care system was sorely needed — so they decided to write it themselves.

After a year of research, writing and expert review, they have published The Health Care Handbook: A Clear and Concise Guide to the United States Health Care System. This user-friendly guide is written for health professions students, practicing health professionals and anyone else who has to navigate the vast and complex U.S. health care system.

The 175-page handbook, organized by chapters, includes helpful facts, charts and explanations on all facets of health care. The handbook is delivered in a style that makes it easy to read and understand. It’s rigorously researched, with more than 250 references, and has been reviewed by dozens of national experts.

This user-friendly guide is written for health professions students, practicing health professionals and anyone else who has to navigate the vast and complex U.S. health care system.

Academic programs at undergraduate, graduate and residency levels have pre-ordered almost 1,000 copies of the book for their students, and many health care journalists have adopted an early draft of the handbook as their quick desk reference for health care system information.

The handbook addresses topics including inpatient and outpatient delivery systems, the different types of health providers, health insurance and economics, the high costs of U.S. health care, and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The manual also addresses health care policy and reform in a nonpolitical, fact-based manner.

Washington University School of Medicine is partnering with the authors on the release of the handbook. The medical school’s former dean and past chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges, William A. Peck, MD, has worked with Askin and Moore on the concept and content since the inception of their idea and has provided a foreword for the book.

The handbook is available for purchase on Amazon.com.