If you find yourself curled up in front of the fireplace in a desperate attempt to avoid the snow like me, you might want to consider picking up a good book. Here are a few health-care related reads that I think are definitely worthy of checking out!
In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope by Rana Awdish
This book is the captivating first-hand account of a local critical care physician who spent months hospitalized fighting for her life from hemorrhagic shock and loss of her first unborn child. Dr. Awdish provides personal accounts of care that lacked compassion throughout her recovery process, some of which in retrospect she was guilty of herself. As a result, she vowed to change the culture and improve the patient experience. This book is a welcome reminder that situations which are “the norm” in our workplace are often the worst days for our patients and their families. I thoroughly enjoyed this plea to medical professionals to provide more compassionate care.
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
In the multifaceted world we live in today, this book reveals the surprising power of a simple checklist to prevent catastrophic errors or “just get things right.” Checklists are boring…I get it, you are skeptical. Trust me that this book is an easy and enjoyable read, filled with lots of personal accounts from airplanes to operating theaters that support the advice it provides. The book is well written, interesting, and thought provoking for anyone with an interest in process improvement – whether it be in a hospital or our increasingly complex daily lives.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Fair warning…this book might make you cry. On the verge of completing training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. This memoir is a beautifully written account of a man who lived life filled with passion and hope despite his unfortunate circumstances. Published posthumously with the final chapters written by his wife, this book takes you through his journey treating patients to treating people in his final months of life.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting…stay warm!
Stephanie Edwin, PharmD, BCPS-AQ Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Cardiac ICU St. John Hospital and Medical Center
Southeastern Michigan Society of Health Systems Pharmacists. 1946-.