How Covid Crashed the System

Reviews / Votes

An expert overview of America's dysfunctional health care system and good ideas for fixing it. Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, the U.S. has suffered the most deaths of any nation, with a far higher percentage among the elderly, racial minorities, and the poor. In a passionate but lucid, fact-based polemic, Nash, a professor of health policy, and journalist Wohlforth point out the primary cause of this dire situation: a wildly expensive, technology-obsessed, fee-for-service system that emphasizes treating disease over prevention, public health, and addressing the socio-economic determinants of health.... Nash and Wohlforth deliver an intelligent prescription for reform; thankfully, many of its features are already in progress. Convincing advice for reform that should persuade the persuadable. * Kirkus Reviews * Global pandemics are always disruptive, but also represent wonderful opportunity to learn by taking advantage of the crisis invoked. The authors have delivered an excellent analysis on how the current pandemic created several learning opportunities because of the multitude of failures within the US healthcare system that became widely evident. This analysis of a broken, multi-level system is profoundly insightful and worth the read all by itself. However, the authors take it a step further by also providing a series of superb recommendations on how best to move the current US healthcare system forward to an improved future state for the betterment of the American population. All who are interested in learning more on how to significantly improve American healthcare should read this well-crafted and highly articulate treatise. -- Peter Angood, MD, President & CEO, American Association for Physician Leadership An insightful read highlighting the healthcare system's challenges, along with smart and thoughtful solutions for a better path forward. A great guide for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of the system and desiring to make it better for future generations. -- Bruce D. Broussard, President & CEO, Humana Inc. Covid-19 shined a bright light on the American healthcare system. On one hand, it spotlighted the heroism and dedication of the doctors and nurses who provide the medical care. On the other hand, it exposed the failures on the national stage of the elected officials and governmental agencies who had the power and responsibility to lead and a medical culture that allowed the errors to be ignored. This expose tells all of these stories and illuminates a path to address the problems without losing what is most valuable in medical practice. It is a must read for anyone fearful about the next pandemic that is waiting to happen -- Dr. Robert Pearl, Former CEO the Permanente Medical Group and Author of "Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients" This book does an unparalleled job of explaining what went wrong as it relates to COVID and healthcare delivery. It will take dedication to the principles of responsible innovation to ensure we do not repeat the same mistakes -- Hemant Taneja, Managing Partner General Catalyst The Covid-19 pandemic exposed breathtaking flaws in the U.S. healthcare system, flaws that contributed to the deaths of over one million Americans. But the tragedy also catalyzed innovations and fresh approaches. In this timely book, Nash and Wohlforth offer a clear-eyed vision of how Covid helped point the way toward vital reforms in the healthcare system. Following their advice will help us create a higher performing system - and leave us far better prepared for the next pandemic threat. -- Robert M. Wachter, MD, chair, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, and author, New York Times-bestseller "The Digital Doctor" As the authors lay out so well, the pandemic may have uncovered many deficiencies in the American healthcare system, but through the sharing of their insights, they also reveal the very blueprint for a better system for tomorrow, not just to battle future pandemics, but to improve health overall. -- Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, President and CEO of Geisinger Health David presents an expert's view of how a pandemic exposed a systemically fragmented healthcare system. He reveals how the pandemic further uncovered the counterproductive hierarchical culture within healthcare, the urgency to train professionals across the patient care continuum to function as teams, the undeniable shift toward active patient management of their health and healthcare, the crucial need to embrace technological innovations, and to make healthcare accessible to all by fostering equality in public health policies. -- H. Richard Haverstick, Jr., Interim President, TJU and CEO, Jefferson Health This is a fascinating, well-researched, and gripping account of one of the most important stories of our time: How the Covid-19 pandemic defeated America's health defenses and caused so much preventable loss. But while that analysis is crystal clear, the book's positive insights may be even more important, because 'How Covid Crashed the System' shows an inspiring path to improve our nation's health and make us all safer from the next pandemic. -- Dr. Leana Wen, Research Professor of Health Policy and Management, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Weaving together compelling real stories with detailed background history, David and Charles have created a wonderful, yet brutal expose of the deficits in American health care that led to poor performance in the face of the COVID pandemic. They offer powerful insights into the changes we need to make now so we can avoid repeating these mistakes in the future. -- Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, President and CEO of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA)