Playing With Bees

How did a 33-year-old mother of two children and former wife of the author end up in the ICU with less than 10% chance of survival? Are you concerned or even scared to trust what you expect to receive as medical care today? Too many mistakes and wrongful procedures with little accountability. As a physician-scientist and quality improvement director Dr. Frederick Southwick has searched for answers to a failing healthcare system. Ironically, during Southwick's quest to find an answer, he also suffered a medical error resulting in the loss of his leg. As a patient his concerns about the medical error that led to his disability were silenced. His perspective as both an injured patient and a front-line physician provide unique insights into the challenges and solutions for transforming our costly and error-prone healthcare systems. Playing with Bees is his answer. His book explores several levels: the challenge of improving safety in medicine; a deep look into author's first hand experiences; and insights into how he thinks as an expert as he addresses a myriad of healthcare issues. The writing is crisp and easy to read, the fast-paced narrative flowing like a novel. Who would have thought that honeybees could provide many of the answers. The reader comes away with a new appreciation of the dangers of medical care and with hope for a safer future.