“Hospital care is becoming hazardous to the patient’s health. Wise words from medical personnel pepper the pages of Critical Conditions…based on more than 150 interviews with nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff, and the author’s own experiences.”
--- Publishers Weekly

“An important book for family members of anyone who is in the hospital, or who is seriously ill. The author distills the information she gained from interviews into calming, practical advice.”
--- ForeWord Magazine

“A lot of useful advice which could truly make a difference. The author has left no stone unturned to ensure that proper hospital care is received…with step-by-step information and tips in dealing with all aspects of a hospital stay. The book will be beneficial to anyone who has a loved one in the hospital and also to students in nursing or medical school.”
---Rebeccas Reads

"At any time, though, something could occur that would send me to the ICU or even a heart unit. I would then want my daughters to go to my bookcase and bring Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital Guide to Get Your Loved One Out Alive with them on their initial visit. Keeping this book handy can keep your loved one from becoming a statistic."
--Bookloons

“Full of pragmatic advice in short, specific sub-sections. It’s worth a look -- for business readers, consumers, hospital managers, politicians...”
---San Francisco Business Times

“An essential tool for anyone with a loved one in the hospital…a simple step-by-step way of averting seemingly avoidable errors. This book acts as a handbook, diary of patient progress, procedural manual, and a reminder for the reader.”
--- BlackGospel.com

 

In the Author Spotlight ...
Martine Ehrenclou,
Author of Critical Conditions

After experiencing the extended hospitalizations of both her mother and godmother, author Martine Ehrenclou was determined to find out if her family members' experiences were the norm. In her new book, Critical Conditions, she explains how hospital patient care is becoming hazardous to the patient's health and how you can be a proactive advocate for your hospitalized loved one.

Having done extensive investigation while acquiring her Master's degree in Psychology, Martine was no stranger to research. She began interviewing 50 families about their experiences with hospital care. "Family members all reported feeling so overwhelmed and stymied by the hospital system," she says. "I was shocked at the horrendous amount of errors, neglect, confusion, and just the overall feeling of being overwhelmed by the entire situation."

Shocked by what she heard, Martine then interviewed over 150 nurses who worked in hospitals, dozens of physicians, physician assistants, hospital social workers, psychologists, and other medical staff to find out what was going on in hospitals and why so many family members were distraught over their loved ones’ hospitalizations. "Hospital care is in crisis," she explains. "Many physicians and nurses are also frustrated with the system."

Nurses were especially receptive to Martine's questions. "There is a drastic nursing shortage in this country," she says. "Nurses are caring for more patients than they should have to and are frustrated at the amount of paperwork and charting that has to be done for the insurance companies."

In Critical Conditions, Martine tells you how to:

• Prevent deadly medical errors, medication mistakes, and infectious diseases.
• Reach doctors when you need them every time.
• Navigate and manage the hospital system with confidence.
• Interact with doctors and nurses effectively.
• Maximize care for the patient.
• Comfort the patient.
• What to do if you live out of town.
• Create a Family Advocate Team.

Martine lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband, a successful architect, and their 13-year-old daughter. She currently runs writing groups for at-risk youth and adults. She has at least two more books planned, one about dealing with nursing homes and assisted living facilities and the other is a pediatric version of Critical Conditions.

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To purchase your copy of Critical Conditions, visit
http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/02357.htm

To learn more about Martine Ehrenclou,
please visit her website: http://www.criticalconditions.com/

Return to the Author Spotlight index

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