The Invisible Hand Wielding the Scalpel
A surgeon’s account of profit and power in American healthcare
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AlbakiReads Editorial
A surgeon’s account of profit and power in American healthcare
Drawing on her experience as an orthopedic surgeon and private-practice owner, Erica Rowe Urquhart examines how insurance practices shape access to care and the financial burdens patients face. The description highlights prior authorizations, retroactive denials, and confusing policies, using case studies involving delayed surgery and interrupted treatment to illustrate their effects. It also connects patient and physician struggles with the influence of healthcare executives, lobbyists, and political donations. The book frames these issues as features of a profit-driven system, presenting a practitioner’s critique of the relationship between insurers, doctors, and patients.
Good fit for readers who enjoy
- Readers interested in the U.S. healthcare system and health insurance practices.
- Those seeking a physician’s perspective on the financial and administrative pressures facing patients and private practices.
- Readers interested in the role of corporate and political influence in healthcare.
Themes
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