When Doctors Don't Listen

I was driving to school and wished I could share this with you in the moment.    It was on the Diane Rheem show, and she was interviewing two doctors about a book they just wrote, "When Doctors Don't Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests."

The United States spends $2.5 trillion on health care, accounting for more than 16 percent of our gross domestic product. But more spending has not translated into better results: the U.S. consistently ranks below other countries on delivering quality health care. A major culprit in rising costs is medical testing, which totals $250 billion extra every year. In a new book, two Harvard doctors say physicians rely too much on algorithms and formulas to make a diagnosis, leading them to order unnecessary tests. How to get the right diagnosis and better care from your doctor.

The focus of the book is on 8 pillars that patients can do to get the care they need.  

Here is the Diane Rhem show about this topic.  Here is the transcripts, or you can listen to the audio. If nothing else, read the excerpt from the book, as well as the comments from others.  

Add your own thoughts to this post.    Have you are a loved one or friend experienced doctor visits where tests are done before they truly understand what is wrong with the patient?  Do you think the 8 pillars will work?  Why or why not?