Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital (The Inspiration for the NBC Drama New Amsterdam)

I like medical stories in general as well as learning more about different physical and mental illnesses. Add to that the knowledge that Bellevue Hospital is well known -- certainly throughout the U.S. if not the entire world, this book of true stories is a sure attention grabber if you're of similar mindset. It certainly adds to my interest that it's set in the great New York City because I have often wondered what it might be like to live there. However I never quite worked up the courage! I am older now so that dream seems to be just that! The author, Dr Eric Manheimer of course does his due diligence to protect his patients confidentiality and it covers the emergencies and crises that send a person rushing (or being rushed by ambulance) to the E.R on what starts out as an ordinary day -- or the close of one. There are trauma victims such as stabbings, gunshot wounds or car accidents, as well as chronic diseases or conditions such as HIV/AIDS, TB, obesity, diabetes, drug seekers and dealers; all part of the harsh reality for these medical professionals in a big city. Additionally, the hospital has a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) and even a court room on the property which I didn't know. So there are patients seen there with major depression, schizophrenia and basically all mental illnesses. Very interesting and comprehensive read. Easy to understand and well edited.

This is a heart wrenching, thoughtful memoir about a hospital that ranks caring and working together for the physical and mental welfare of the patients. The author has shared stories about patients and himself that immerses us into twelve lives and the staff who care for them.

Being a huge fan of the TV series New Amsterdam, I purchased its source material, Eric Manheimer’s Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital. The book arrived, and I put it in my “to read” stack. It languished there for quite some time as my perception was it would be a clinical treatise that would be hard to wade through. But I eventually began reading, and I was quite surprised. Manheimer, a doctor who had been head of Bellevue for a time, chose twelve diverse patients, himself among them, to tell us readers about the American medical system and the largest of hospitals in that system. His patients are a diverse lot, economically and culturally. Dr. Manheimer is definitely a man of the world, so he is able to reach out to his patients in ways that other doctors may not be able to, conversing with them in Spanish, understanding their backgrounds, and even relating to their music and food choices. As he weaves his tales, we see him get involved personally with these patients, and it is this personal touch that makes the book so fascinating and rich. And to include his own battle with cancer gives us further insight into this remarkable physician. The book reads like a series of interconnected short stories, rather than a series of medical histories as I feared. And anyone who has watched New Amsterdam can certainly see Manheimer in the show’s main character. This is a powerful book.

A rare glimpse into a health care setting few ever see, this book realistically addresses complex issues without easy answers.

Enjoyed this book, loved the series New Amsterdam based on this book .

What made this book a good read was the stories of the people. However, the author did a good job of delving into the lives of his patients.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have seen healthcare from a different perspective through the stories of these twelve patients.

I'm retired from a long career in the medical tech world. After several decades working within the bowels of some amazing hospitals, including a couple of decades at a major trauma center in the southwest, I can attest to the very real portrait Dr Mannheimer describes. The patients, staff and the politics of this world have been well represented. Great read.

I liked but forget Max from New Amsterdam because this is totally different and as cool as the series

Ok

Excelente libro

very disappointed. I love the book but the cover is a bit damaged, I thought I was buying a new book here.

Very well written and interesting book