Hospital Warrior: How to Get the Best Care for Your Loved One

When someone you love is hospitalized, it can be scary-even terrifying-for the patient and for family and friends. A hospital may seem like a foreign land. Sounds, smells, and the culture are unfamiliar; even the medical terminology sounds like a different language. Understanding the hospital environment and knowing how to navigate its complicated pathways can make you a strong champion for your loved one. You are as critical to your loved one's recovery as the doctors and nurses. Your role is different, but vital. In some cases, you can make the difference between life and death. Hospital Warrior de-mystifies the process and provides the tools, understanding and insight you need to get the best care for your loved one. Based on Bonnie Friedman's own experiences fighting for her husband's healthcare needs for more than 24 years and through 14 separate hospitalizations, Hospital Warrior lays out in direct, simple terms hard-learned and time-tested tactics to help ensure a loved one's medical needs are met. Hospital Warrior also includes checklists and interviews with doctors and other healthcare professionals who provide essential tips and advice for the reader. If you have a loved one in the hospital, don't leave home without this book. Praise for Hospital Warrior "Hospital Warrior isn't just about advocating; it's about saving lives. Bonnie Friedman delves deep into the hospital setting, and provides valuable insights, wisdom and tips to help readers get the best possible medical care for the ones they love. She knows what she's talking about and it shows. Read her book before someone you know has to go to the hospital." -- Heidi Godman, health journalist, host of Health Check with Heidi Godman on WSRQ-FM, Sarasota, FL. "Hospital Warrior is more than a how-to book on how to advocate for a loved one. It is like having a smart, savvy friend with you every step of the way, helping you get the best hospital care for someone you love. Bonnie Friedman has learned the ropes, and she'll help you learn them too." - Mindy Utay, LCSW, JD, couples and family therapist, psychoanalyst, writer, lecturer, official blogger for the Huffington Post "Ms. Friedman has assembled a well-researched guide to help family and friends navigate the complex environment of modern hospitals. Packed with helpful information, Hospital Warrior was invaluable to me during my husband's three-week stay in intensive care following heart surgery that led to a stroke. The book helped me decipher medical terms, understand treatments and identify appropriate questions to ask amidst the emotional turmoil I faced when my husband was seriously ill. The extensive reference section was also helpful as my husband passed through acute rehab to sub-acute care during recovery." - Susan Fleming, Annandale, VA