County

Very Accurate account

I was in nursing school a little before the dates in the book. I attended City #2 Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Homer G. Phillips. His account of Cook County Hospital is very accurate of the time. I saw many of the same things. Politics were the same all over the country, I could not get into the schools in Michigan where I lived. I am African American, we were not admitted to the schools there. After graduation I worked at the City Hospital in Detroit. Private hospitals did not accept minorities unless they could produce an insurance card. The rooms in the hospitals were then segregated.

He is right on target.Listening was a flash back for me.

10 people found this helpful

County: Life, Death & Politics

The individual stories of life and death are interesting, but the book is really about the politics of publicly-funded health care. Most discouraging: the book spans decades and basic problems persist. On the other hand, lots of room for hope: dedicated docs and some examples of top-notch medical care. Insightful and a good example of how the personal becomes political.

7 people found this helpful

Powerful. Moving. Inspiring.

Firstly, the narrator, Bronson Pinchot, brings Dr. Ansell’s words to life. For me, a healthcare worker, so much of what I see and feel about the quality and quantity of patient care inpatient and outpatient is reflected in this book. It saddens and infuriated me that we are still fighting for basic healthcare for ALL people. Dr. Ansell has written a powerful and articulate account of his experiences and documented the the disparities in healthcare between minorities, poor, and uninsured vs the white, middle-upperclass, and insured. I am inspired to keep fighting for my patients.

3 people found this helpful

I would like to meet the author

Being a denizen of Chicago who now lives on the south side and having been a student at the Fantus outpatient clinic, I really connected with this story. It’s part autobiography, part clinical, part love story and part political activist novel. It’s a great read if you want to learn an important piece of Chicago’s history as well as a piece of the history of our national healthcare system.

I hope to see an addendum to the book.

2 people found this helpful

Moving and disturbing account of indifference

What made the experience of listening to County the most enjoyable?

The anecdotes from former patients, who shared their stories of bureaucratic indifference to their suffering. Dr. Ansell never overstates his argument and never plays with the reader's emotions.

Would you recommend County to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. I would recommend the book to my friends who work, as I do, in government and public affairs. It is a lesson in active listening and responding to unmet needs.

Which character – as performed by Bronson Pinchot – was your favorite?

N/A

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Bronson Pinchot's delivery of the material was a bit off-putting. I would rather have listened to this book as narrated by its author.

2 people found this helpful

So true in more than one area

... The stories of all the problems with a Chicago hospital over the decades are unfortunately true in many places, many institutions.
The author feels, as many of us do, that there should be some way to have everyone receive the medical care they need. There is only one problem, and it is the same in every country: money. Technology costs money, and will keep on costing more as time advances. Agreed, everyone should get what they need... but also, there are plenty of people who do nothing for themselves. There is no good answer for that question, as we hear about the socialized countries having financial problems also.
Narrator, Mr Pinchot, is a favorite of mine... from other sites- but PLEASE get the lingo correct! To remove infected tissue from an area is to debride= de-BREED, not de-BRIDE. I know it appears to sound like a female wedding participant, but it’s not spelled the way it sounds.
I’m happy I listened to this book!

1 person found this helpful

Okay; interesting

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I'm not sure. I learned about public health, & Chicago.

What could David A. Ansell have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Probably make it shorter

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Nothing, really

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Perhaps

Any additional comments?

I liked it; I was just ready for it to end before it did.

1 person found this helpful

A great view of County

I found the very well done. From having lived in Chicago and some understanding of County the book was a great read. David brought to light thinks I had no idea about.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent, eye-opening!

Insightful glimpse into the difficulties of balancing health care and dwindling insurance coverage. 'Will open your eyes to what's going on in most major cities in the U.S.

2 people found this helpful

Dr Ansell's Message as Relevant Now as When Written

Initially was hesitant to endure the gloomy accounting of medical care
injustice described in author's era doctoring in Chicago's inner city. But I wanted hear his personal crusade as a "liberal" fighting for medical care justice (or alleviating injustices). Long, drawn-out and wearisome struggles are detailed by crusading author.But at the end what he shares is light on inner city medical disparities and cultural factors exacerbating health disparities. A key take away: what ever delays seeking or receiving helpful medical treatment will boost disparities and mortalities. For that there is no "magic pill".
Personally, as a retired M.D., hats off to author. He deserves a Congressional Medal. This book is not for entertainment. Dr Amsell bears open his soul. Be prepared to hear him out.