“Health care is complex, and that is not an accident,” says Dr. David Wilcox of Concord. “It is a strategy on the part of those who benefit from your health care dollars to keep the general public from knowing what is really going on in the healthcare system. No other business is run the same way. There is little to no transparency, about procedures or billing, and the average health care consumer doesn’t think about it until they have to access the healthcare system.
“That is a dangerous mentality, as we all will need health care at some point in our lives. Not being prepared and knowledgeable means you will have little control over the health care you receive. When you throw the covers off the American Healthcare System, you reveal a lot of shady individuals all vying for your health care dollars.”
Wilcox, with three decades of health care experience, seeks to level the playing field for the average American. His eye-opening book – “How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival” – can help consumers of health care understand how to avoid getting caught in the systemic net. After all, we will all be consumers of health care at some point in our lives. In his own words, Dr. Wilcox’s book explores “what to do if you have to go to a hospital, how to handle an insurance company’s claim denial, how to find an alternative to high-priced prescriptions, and why the current pay-for-fee system is inadequate. You will also discover the direction the healthcare system needs to move in, to holistically care for you, the patient … information that the health care entities would prefer you didn’t know.”
Early reviewers of the book give it high praise: “A must-read for every American citizen” … “Great information on navigating our complicated and ridiculous healthcare system” … “This is info everyone should know.”
Wilcox goes on to say “As a health care professional, I am amazed by the lack of proactive patient-teaching information available to the general public. Most often health care information is shared with you only after you are diagnosed with a condition. This book is a game changer and will aid the average American in safely navigating the American Healthcare System.”
One example in the book is the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) role who sits in the middle of the distribution chain making decisions about your prescription medications. “The PBM uses rebates and discounts to wheel and deal with the pharmacy and the insurance companies, while many times pocketing the savings. Many people are unaware this is occurring,” Dr. Wilcox says.
Not every health care consumer has an advocate they can turn to when they run into barriers navigating the complexities of health care, Wilcox notes. Now there is a handbook, broken down into layperson’s terms to guide the average American on how to be a partner in their care. Dr. Wilcox is a health care professional who believes proactive patient education enables those accessing the healthcare system to be better partners in their health care. He also believes that everyone has the right to access the American Healthcare System safely. You can find his book on Amazon at the link below.
How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival is available on amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578878364
Dr. Wilcox is a Doctorate prepared nurse who also holds a Masters in Health Administration and is Board Certified in Nursing Informatics. Dr. Wilcox has 28 years of healthcare experience in which he worked as a bedside nurse, hospital administrator, and in healthcare information technology which has helped him to develop his unique perspective on the American Healthcare System.
Dr Wilcox has been published in Health Management Technology for his work in patient throughput, American Nurse Today for his work in health care mobility solutions and the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) Voice for the use of technology in wellness and patient engagement. He is a past member of the Institute of Healthcare Improvements Flow Community and has presented at multiple national conferences.
Dr Wilcox’s website: Dr. David Wilcox – Healthcare, American Healthcare System (drdavidwilcox.com)
Featured Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
