Health Care Nation: the future is calling and it's better than you think.

Hidden Data Errors Delay Healthcare for Millions of Americans

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:36:09 GMT

Four out of five provider directory listings in major health plans are wrong.
That bad data drives higher costs, delayed care, and fear for millions of Americans already worried about getting sick.

This isn’t a complex problem to fix.
It’s a neglected one.

This article is worth reading.

Maternity Services are the Lightning Rod for a Failing System

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 19:31:29 GMT

Childbirth is one of the oldest human experiences — yet America is becoming one of the hardest places in the developed world to safely have a baby.

A new report shows 27 hospitals have shut down or will shut down their labor-and-delivery units by the end of 2025. In the last five years, 116 hospitals have shuttered maternity services.

That’s not a statistic. It's a warning siren.

Maternity care deserts are expanding in every direction. They are places where women are being left behind. For families, this means:

• A one-hour drive just to reach a delivery room

• Emergencies that turn deadly

• Babies born in ERs never designed for childbirth

• Women facing higher risks simply because they’re pregnant

While Congress spent the past month fighting over a government shutdown and whether to extend the ACA, the real question they should be debating never made the agenda:

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Coverage doesn’t save mothers’ lives when maternity services are gone.

Subsidies won’t revive hospitals that have shut their doors.

And no “reform” matters if it props up a system that can’t even guarantee safe childbirth.

I wrote my last book, Health Care Nation, to say what too few are willing to:

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If this hits you the way it hits me, say something.

Silence is how systems fail — and keep failing.

Juneteenth and America's Unequal Burden of Health

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:40:22 GMT

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Digital Health Talks Podcast

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:51:26 GMT

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Health Care Nation - On the Air in NYC

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:45:14 GMT

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This week, I hit the airwaves on Shake It Off—a talk radio show on AM-970 reaching listeners across the greater New York City area—to share the story behind my new book Health Care Nation.

We didn’t just talk health care. We talked movement building . I believe it’s time for citizens and clinicians alike to raise their voices—not just in frustration, but in reimagining what American health care could be .

If you're ready to challenge the status quo and be part of a smarter, more humane system, give this a listen .

MedPage Today Op-Ed

Tue, 13 May 2025 21:30:49 GMT

I just published an op-ed piece in MedPage Today, which is an excerpt from a chapter in Health Care Nation. In many ways, health care has become America’s largest escape room.

We’ve locked our most talented health care experts and consumers in with a staggering $4.7 trillion of our own money. The problem is that we haven’t figured out how to escape the maze of convoluted policies, skewed financial incentives, and entrenched traditions that are steering amazing people and 17.3% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the wrong direction.

Go here to learn more…

Las Vegas Talk Show Interview

Tue, 13 May 2025 21:04:26 GMT

Maria Ngo hosts a talk show in Las Vegas called THE STRIP LIVE. She typically interviews celebrities like Tony Bennett, Kevin Costner, and Sir Richard Branson. Needless to say, I was surprised to have a text from Maria wanting to talk when I landed in Las Vegas to speak at HIMSS and attend a launch event for my new book, Health Care Nation.

Go here for this fun interview . Maria brings an energy level to her work that is contagious. We covered everything from the new book, the future of AI, to mentoring advice.

Health Care Nation Reviewed by Medika Life

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:45:59 GMT

Medika Life provides a thoughtful review of Health Care Nation , seeing it as a departure from other books written about health reform. They call it "a soulful, purposeful, and powerfully personal invitation for Americans to reclaim their role in shaping a sustainable, people-centered health system." I couldn't have said it better myself

Today marks the third week since the book was published. Yesterday, Amazon named Health Care Nation the #1 New Release for Health Care. Special thanks to those who ordered and are already reading the book. I wrote it for those who believe health care is a noble cause and are ready to change the system to be more equitable, intelligent, and human-centered.

Health Care Nation - A Review by Health Populi

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:40:53 GMT

I had the opportunity to sit down with Jane Sarasohn-Kahn to talk about my new book, Health Care Nation - The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think . From defining why the American Health System is going in the wrong direction, to discussing the power of a citizen-driven movement, this review gets at the heart of why I wrote this book. Go here for our discussion. Go here to bookmark this highly-rated blog reporting on transformation issues and opportunities in health and medicine.

Health Care Nation Launches - Amazon Names as #1 New Release

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:39:24 GMT

Friday, March 28th was the official launch date for Health Care Nation-The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think . It is now available through all major booksellers. Amazon named it the #1 (Audible Version) and #2 (Paperback Version) New Release in the Health Care Management Category and the #1 New Release in Health Policy. If you are curious, go here to listen to the Preface and Chapter 1.

Special thanks to those who pre-ordered or purchased the book early.

Health Care Nation Interview with WFSB Channel 3, Hartford CT

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 22:40:33 GMT

I sat down recently with Susan Raff, Chief Political Reporter for WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford, CT, to talk about a wide range of topics covered in my new book Health Care Nation. From food safety to women’s health to creating a citizen-driven movement, we covered a lot of ground in 27 minutes!

Go here to watch.

Politics Done Right: Health Care Today is What the Civil Rights Movement was to the 1960s

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:01:49 GMT

Egberto Willies is a podcast host and commentator who always tries to tease out the "real story" happening behind the scenes of news today. I had the opportunity to sit with Egberto and talk about why America spends more on health care than any other country, and yet, we as citizens are the least healthy in the developed world and most likely to die early. cI covered some of the key issues found in my new book, Health Care Nation.

Go here to listen to our wide-ranging conversation on health care and our ability to reimagine a better use of our talented health professionals and resources.

Health Care Nation Debuts at Las Vegas Launch Event

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 22:43:46 GMT

Special thanks to my publisher, Taylor and Francis, for organizing a "soft launch" event in Las Vegas last week for my new book Health Care Nation - The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think. While the official launch happens on March 28th with all major booksellers, we had advance copies available for sale. It was great fun to do my first book signings. Already getting good feedback from early readers.

A big thank you for those of you who are early buyers and readers.

Also, a special shout-out to Kristine Mednansky, Senior Editor at T&F (pictured below) who has now seen me through three books.

I also just had the opportunity to hear for the first time the Audible version of Health Care Nation . Excited to have Rachel Doolan narrating my book. She's a well-known voice on Audible that I love listening to.

There are lots of new things happening in the coming weeks. I'd love to have you sign up for the newsletter so we can alert you to news and events in support of mobilizing citizens to reimagine and reshape health care from what it is to what YOU and others think it should be.

LA’s Catastrophic Wildfires Are a Cautionary Tale: Why Environmental Policy is Health Policy

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 22:03:08 GMT

Hippocrates wrote the essay “Air, Water and Places” in 400 B.C.E. to shine a light on the connections between our health and the environment. ^[i] With 2,000 years’ advance notice, you would think we would have done a better job of getting this right.

The tragic losses and impact of wildfires that decimated the Palisades and other Los Angeles area communities point to why environmental policies and health policies are intrinsically linked. America must factor environmental policies into its health transformation plan.

Let’s use the recent California wildfires to illustrate this point.

For Those Directly Impacted: 29 dead (at last count), with many citizens injured with burns, smoke inhalation, and respiratory distress. Beyond the physical injuries are the emotional trauma thousands of Californians are feeling with the sudden loss of their homes and way of life.

The Indirect Effects on Californians: Those outside the fire area were impacted by reduced air quality, impacting health conditions for anyone suffering from respiratory illnesses such as COPD.

Many metric tons of ash and debris were scattered across southern California. Experts warn that the recent blazes unleashed complex chemical reactions, turning ordinary objects into potentially toxic ash that includes harmful lead, asbestos, or arsenic, as well as newer synthetic materials. Some of these chemicals are linked to cardiovascular disease, reduced lung function, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Indirect Effects on the Rest of America and the World: Smoke and air pollution from these fires will surpass the health impact of previous wildfires, potentially health status across America and the world.

Wildfires in California have quintupled since the 1970s. [ii]
In 2020, as much as 70% of California was covered by wildfire smoke. [iii]
Smoke from the California wildfires in September 2020 traveled nearly 5,000 miles through the atmosphere to reach northern Europe in a matter of days. [iv]

As clean-up and recovery efforts get underway, scientists worry about where all the waste will go. Some potentially hazardous materials could end up in drinking water . [v]

2023 was the hottest year on record as was the summer of 2024. [vi] [vii] These conditions will likely continue and require America to integrate its approach to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment with efforts to create a health system that produces measurable benefits for its citizens.

Such an approach will not only improve quality of life but also reduce healthcare costs by preventing illnesses and injuries before they occur.

[i] Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century. The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. 2, Understanding Population Health and Its Determinants. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221225/

[ii] Smoke Covered 70% of California During Biggest Wildfire Years | UC Davis

[iii] Ibid

[iv] Smoke from US wildfires reaches Europe, satellite images show, The Independent, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/us-wildfires-smoke-europe-satellite-california-oregon-b455594.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[v] Contaminated drinking water is a growing concern for cities facing wildfires | AP News

[vii] Summer 2024 hottest ever recorded, EU climate change monitor says, 24 France, June 9, 2024,

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240906-summer-2024-hottest-ever-recorded-on-the-planet-eu-climate-change-monitor-says

The Conversation Americans Should Be Having as the United States Pulls Out of the World Health Organization

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:18:02 GMT

This week President Donald Trump made waves in the global health community by issuing an Executive Order to pull America out of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Founded in 1948, WHO is an agency of the United Nations whose charter is to plan and coordinate the international response to health emergencies as well as help countries monitor, prepare, and recover from disease threats. While not without controversy, WHO is the most recognized global forum for predicting and planning for events affecting the health of humans across the planet.

Media coverage of the US withdrawal has focused on political rancor (Trump believes WHO mishandled the pandemic) and funding (While the US is one of 194 participating countries, it funds almost 20% of the agency’s $6.8 billion budget). [i]

As the new Administration gives up America’s seat at the table for global health planning, it's important to shine a light on very real issues impacting the health and well-being of Americans. They are worth public scrutiny and debate starting with this statement:

America is a First-World Nation Battling its Own Third-World Health Crises

America’s health care system is the most expensive in the world. It’s staffed with some of the world’s best health and medical talent. Despite this, we are at the bottom of the list in overall health compared to all developed nations. This includes access to care, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes. ^[ii]

Americans are among the least healthy people in the rich world and among the most likely to die early.

The richest men in America live longer than the average man in any country. The poorest have life expectancies comparable to men in Sudan and Pakistan. [i]

If you are a citizen of Mississippi, you probably won’t live as long as someone from Bangladesh. [ii] [iii] [iv]

Maternal mortality rates for American women are worse than in most third-world countries. Even more unexplainable is that Black women are three times more likely to die of childbirth than White women. This gap is worse today than it was when we began keeping records in the early 1900’s. [i]

America is a global leader in avoidable amputations. This is mainly due to the improper management of diabetes, which impacts 38.4 million Americans. [ii]

30 million Americans die prematurely each year from preventable diseases. Twenty-seven percent of US health-care spending goes to managing health conditions that are preventable. [iii]

As the World Health Organization focuses on increasing its investments in global Public Health, it’s important to note that America’s investment in similar Public Health services is declining.

Winston Churchill once said, “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.” And so, as we discuss and debate America’s role in creating a healthier world through organizations like WHO, let us actively debate and decide what priorities we will invest in to improve the health of the 330 million people who call America home.

[i] Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999: Healthier Mothers and Babies, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999: Healthier Mothers and Babies (cdc.gov)

[ii] NICHOLAS KRISTOF, How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care? New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/16/opinion/health-care-life-expectancy-poverty.html?smid=em-share

[iii] Sandro Galea, Nason Maani, The Cost of Preventable Disease in the US, The Lancet, October, 2020, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30204-8/fulltext

[i] Raj Chetty, Michael Stepner, Sarah Abraham, Shelby Lin, Benjamin Scuderi, Nicholas Turner, Augustin Bergeron, and David Cutler, Income and Life Expectancy in the United States: Executive Summary, The Health Inequality Project, April 2016, https://www.healthinequality.org/documents/paper/healthineq_summary.pdf

[ii] NICHOLAS KRISTOF, How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care? New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/16/opinion/health-care-life-expectancy-poverty.html?smid=em-share

[iii] Life Expectancy at Birth by State, National Center for Health Statistics, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/life_expectancy/life_expectancy.htm (cdc.gov)

[iv] Life Expectancy at Birth – Bangladesh, World Bank Group https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=BD

[i] https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/what-is-the-world-health-organization-and-why-does-trump-want-to-leave-it/ar-AA1xFf0l?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[ii] Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System, Commonwealth Fund, September, 2023, https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2024/sep/mirror-mirror-2024