"Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright has both the diagnosis and prescription for what ails American health care." —Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell is Human "In this timely, astute, and pivotal discussion, the author. . . makes great use of pop culture, tying together Marcus Welby, M.D. and Star Trek references to Converse high top sneakers and the novels of Michael Crichton. She also employs a keen sense of humor throughout, which keeps the narrative grounded yet accessible and flexible, and concludes with a smart, multi-pronged strategy." —Kirkus Reviews "A highly personal account, conveyed through storytelling that is both effective and accessible. Back to Balance is an insightful and delightful read describing the critical need for enhancing the art of medicine in providing health care to the nation." —James L. Madara, MD, CEO, American Medical Association
"Similar to Zappos, Back to Balance lays out a plan for businesses to involve the whole human; great insights into bringing the humanity back to business." —Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos.com and New York Times bestselling author of Delivering Happiness
"Halee Fischer-Wright beautifully weaves together compelling stories, powerful evidence, and provocative insights in a book that’s a joy to read. As a communication advisor I’ve watched health care leaders struggle to articulate what’s wrong with medicine today and how to solve those challenges. Back to Balance clearly explains how art, science, and business all play a role in reimagining a health care system that reflects that highest expression of our talents." —Carmine Gallo, author of Talk Like Ted and The Storyteller's Secret "Halee Fischer-Wright has made common sense transformational! Through a series a personal stories, popular culture examples, and rock solid logic, Dr. Fischer-Wright reminds us that we do hold the power to transform health care delivery, if we would reestablish in medicine some basic, commonsense principles and a healthy relationship between art, science, and business. Her approach is workable at every level—from policy to practice. This book is not another esoteric treatise but a straightforward route to providing greater value to the patients we serve." —H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, President, and CEO, HIMSS
"Back to Balance shows us what's behind the curtain of health care and changes what you think you know about medicine. Fischer-Wright asks the questions that will compassionately transform health care to its full potential." —Jack Canfield, America's #1 success coach and coauthor of The Success Principles "While our national discourse champions top-down policy and 'silver bullet' technology solutions, Back to Balance challenges each of us to rediscover the front lines of medical care—the humanity of our patients, the challenges facing caregivers, and the profound relationship between the two to bring fulfillment, joy, and exceptionalism back to the practice of medicine." —Amar A. Desai, MD, MPH, President, Healthcare Partners California, a DaVita Medical Group "With refreshing honesty, Fischer-Wright never points fingers or assigns blame, but rather transcends and includes the best of the art, science, and business of medicine to create a spot-on guide for real and meaningful change. It's irreverent, optimistic, smart, and funny—a rare combination in medical books." —Zubin Damania, MD, creator of ZDoggMD and founder of Turntable Health
"A highly personal account, conveyed through storytelling that is both effective and accessible. Back to Balance is an insightful and delightful read describing the critical need for enhancing the art of medicine in providing health care to the nation." —James L. Madara, MD, CEO, American Medical Association
"Similar to Zappos, Back to Balance lays out a plan for businesses to involve the whole human; great insights into bringing the humanity back to business." —Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos.com and New York Times bestselling author of Delivering Happiness
"Halee Fischer-Wright has made common sense transformational! Through a series a personal stories, popular culture examples, and rock solid logic, Dr. Fischer-Wright reminds us that we do hold the power to transform health care delivery, if we would reestablish in medicine some basic, commonsense principles and a healthy relationship between art, science, and business. Her approach is workable at every level—from policy to practice. This book is not another esoteric treatise but a straightforward route to providing greater value to the patients we serve." —H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, President, and CEO, HIMSS
"Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright has both the diagnosis and prescription for what ails American health care." —Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell is Human
"Halee Fischer-Wright beautifully weaves together compelling stories, powerful evidence, and provocative insights in a book that’s a joy to read. As a communication advisor I’ve watched health care leaders struggle to articulate what’s wrong with medicine today and how to solve those challenges. Back to Balance clearly explains how art, science, and business all play a role in reimagining a health care system that reflects that highest expression of our talents." —Carmine Gallo, author of Talk Like Ted and The Storyteller's Secret
Halee Fischer-Wright beautifully weaves together compelling stories, powerful evidence, and provocative insights in a book that’s a joy to read. As a communication advisor I’ve watched health care leaders struggle to articulate what’s wrong with medicine today and how to solve those challenges. Back to Balance clearly explains how art, science, and business all play a role in reimagining a health care system that reflects that highest expression of our talents.
author of TALK LIKE TED and THE STORYTELLER’ Carmine Gallo
Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright has both the diagnosis and prescription for what ails American health care.
Author of DRIVE and TO SELL IS HUMAN Daniel H. Pink
Halee Fischer-Wright beautifully weaves together compelling stories, powerful evidence, and provocative insights in a book that’s a joy to read. As a communication advisor I’ve watched health care leaders struggle to articulate what’s wrong with medicine today and how to solve those challenges. Back to Balance clearly explains how art, science, and business all play a role in reimagining a health care system that reflects that highest expression of our talents.
author of TALK LIKE TED and THE STORYTELLER’ Carmine Gallo
2017-10-20 An overview of the complications plaguing an increasingly "by-the-numbers" American health care system provides some possible solutions. A former physician-turned-health care executive, Fischer-Wright (Tribal Leadership, 2008) examines the imbalance between the business-minded side of medical treatment and the critical, compassionate, humane part (dubbed the "art of medicine") that she believes "is on life support" these days. While these separate components are important, she stresses, a balance needs to be struck in order for each to be mutually beneficial. The author offers a smoothly written combination of personal and clinical anecdotes, some hitting very close to home, as in her descriptions of her father's stroke and her husband's kidney stones. She also adds relevant case notes and intelligent deliberation on how the health care industry should be radically reformed. As a doctor, Fischer-Wright always considered "things like compassion and empathy and effective care that produces good results to be the key to patient satisfaction," yet her book begins with a chapter on the hospital gown and how medical environment administrators have been attempting to redesign and overhaul the inexpensive apparel to make it more user-friendly and comfortable. The author concurs with the difference it might make to the patient experience yet believes there are much more important ways to improve health care in America. She considers the deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship and its foundation of trust as a key concern. In order to rebuild this component, a paradigm shift must occur away from prioritizing science and business toward patients and the delivery of compassionate, personalized, and humane medical care. Fischer-Wright effectively adopts many different perspectives to demonstrate that the issues facing health care don't just stem from one source, but from a collective of financial, political, social, and scientific territories. To encompass all demographics of her readership (from young medical students to veteran clinical professionals to the simply curious) in this timely, astute, and pivotal discussion, the author describes the serpentine chronology of a typical medical claim. She makes great use of pop culture, tying together Marcus Welby, M.D. and Star Trek references and Converse high top sneakers and the novels of Michael Crichton. She also employs a keen sense of humor throughout, which keeps the narrative grounded yet accessible and flexible, and concludes with a smart, multipronged strategy that "truly moves American health care in a new direction—one that puts the needs of people at the center of the industry again." While acknowledging that there are no quick fixes, the author encourages readers to educate themselves and their loved ones on insurance, procedures, personal maintenance, and the myriad pathways of health care. With small, incremental steps forward, she believes true progress will be made toward improving patient-physician relationships, refocusing on personalizing care, and accessing the kind of world-class clinical treatment everyone deserves. A motivational and elucidating appeal for health system reform and a return to patient-centered medical care.