Surviving a Health Crisis: How to Live Through a Life-threatening Health Emergency

by Kolb, Felix, M.D.

• ISBN13: 9781571431578
• ISBN10: 1571431578
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-01
• Publisher: Rdr Books

Summary

Every year, thousands of people in the United States die needlessly because they were not prepared to deal with a serious health crisis. Author Felix Kolb, MD wants to change those statistics with his new book, which tells readers how to prepare for a medical emergency, as well as what to expect and how to cope when such a crisis occurs. He explains how you can make advance preparations that will increase your chances of surviving a medical crisis. Then he takes you step-by-step through common life-threatening events, following the process from the emergency room through getting a correct diagnosis, the right treatment and proper follow-up care.

Author Biography

Felix Kolb is an Emeritus Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Beth Roybal	1	(2)
Preface: Why I Was Motivated to Write This Book	3	(6)
Part I: Preparing Ahead and Being Responsible
Chapter 1: Why You Should Read This Book	9	(3)
Chapter 2: How to Find the Right Doctor for You	12	(7)
Chapter 3: Get to Know the Local Hospitals	19	(9)
Chapter 4: Be Sure You Have Adequate Health Insurance Coverage	28	(11)
Chapter 5: Deciding On Long-Term Care Insurance	39	(5)
Chapter 6: Make your Home a Safer Place	44	(7)
Chapter 7: Value Your Emergency Communication Tools and Monitoring Devices	51	(11)
Chapter 8: Live a More Healthful Life	62	(9)
Chapter 9: Have a Support Team in Place	71	(6)
Chapter 10: Create Your Health File and "911" Kit	77	(5)
Chapter 11: Know Now That You're Prepared	82	(10)
Part II: The Troubled Journey Ahead of You After Disaster Strikes: From Life-threatening Event to the Emergency Room, Hospital, Surgery, Intensive Care Unit, Recovery, and Beyond
Chapter 12: Common Life-threatening Events	92	(19)
Chapter 13: When a Serious Health Emergency Occurs Where It Happens Determines the Next Move	111	(12)
Chapter 14: A Trip to the Emergency Room	123	(10)
Chapter 15: How to Arrive at the Correct Diagnosis, to Get the Right Treatment, and the Proper Care	133	(19)
Chapter 16: The Surgical Procedure and Anesthesia	152	(17)
Chapter 17: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU or CCU)	169	(6)
Chapter 18: Your Days in the Hospital Room of the Open Ward	175	(27)
Chapter 19: Long-term Recovery at Home, in a Nursing Facility, or in a Rehabilitation Center	202	(10)
Chapter 20: Returning to Your Previous Life or to a New Lifestyle	212	(8)
The 10 Commandments for Surviving a Critical Illness (Dr. Kolb's Summary of the 20 Chapters of the Book for the Informed Reader)	220	(3)
Epilogue: Reflections on Life and Death—Our Gift of Life and Fear of Dying	223	(3)
Suggested Further Reading	226	(3)
Index	229