Author Description

In this deeply researched yet controversial book, Stephen C. Schimpff, MD explains why our healthcare delivery system serves us so poorly and costs so much, and why government and insurer policy has not only failed to improve care delivery but has actually made it worse. Primary care physicians have been forced into a non-sustainable business model that drives them to schedule an unreasonable number of patient visits per day. Too many visits means not enough time per patient, forcing those physicians to instead refer a patient to a specialist, order a test, or write a prescription when more time would have resulted in better care at much less cost. "An outstanding treatise describing how misdirected attempts to save money have underfunded primary care resulting in lower quality healthcare, an increasing shortage of primary care physicians, and an increase in the cost of healthcare..." -Robert J Alpern, MD Ensign Professor of Medicine and Dean, Yale School of Medicinep>"With nearly 3000 employees, the health of our company depends on a healthy workforce... Fixing the Primary Care Crisis brings attention to an issue that will resonate with businesses of every size, in any market." -Bahman Atefi, ScD, CEO, Alion Science and Technology "Dr. Schimpff eloquently illustrates one of the principle lessons we teach our medical students throughout their training: relationship matters. He rightly asks how the doctor-patient relationship has suffered in today''s medical/commerce environment. Dr. Schimpff''s powerful patient vignettes and wide ranging interviews provide thought provoking concerns for physicians, patients and those of us whose mission is to train the next generation of healthcare providers." -Robert A. Barish, MD MBA, Chancellor, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport "An outstanding work by an extraordinary writer... The crisis is real and imminent and we would all be served in heeding Steve''s advice." -Stephen Burch, Chai