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Mars Hospital
In this rollicking dark comedy about a failing hospital in Mars, Nebraska, Dr. Wave, a kind and well-meaning outsider, leaps into a year-long fight against an overwhelming bureaucracy upheld by a corrupt administrator who refuses to budge. Wave juggles some of the worst (and silliest) medical cases of his career and struggles to manage a hostile coterie of MDs with a host of defects, the least of which is their ubiquitous lack of Medical Board certifications, while doing his best to stay professional in the face of converging forces that seem hell-bent on undoing his easy solutions to obvious problems. Meanwhile, Skip, the hospital's CEO who dances his way out of every argument, seems interested in spending money only on kooky business development programming. After being denied help at every turn, Wave is pushed to the limit of his good nature. Will he be able to save Mars Hospital, or will he be forced to give up and seek greener pastures? Mars Hospital is drawn from the experiences of Dr. Lloyd Flatt, a veteran family physician who has seen far more in his career than he could ever dream (or ever wanted to).
344 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2023
18 people are currently reading
12614 people want to read
About the author
Lloyd Flatt
1 book61 followersDr. Lloyd M. Flatt obtained his M.D. at Loyola University in 1992 and completed an internship and residency at Loyola University in Internal Medicine in 1995. He entered general medical practice full time in 1996 and became medical director of a small rural hospital in Illinois in 1998. He worked clinically and as a medical director until 2019, when he retired to live in Las Vegas and write his first book Mars Hospital.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 12, 2024
As a literal doctor in Nebraska, I expected this book to hit close to home. Unfortunately, it was so over-the-top with its outlandish patient stories, medical incompetence, and administrative racketeering - it was occasionally entertaining, but little more. The townspeople/patients were all completely ignorant and the authorities in town were all completely crooked (including many of the doctors).
Moreover, the entire premise is flawed as a 200-bed hospital IN NEBRASKA would be one of the 5 largest hospitals in the state and, as such, would never exist in a small podunk town as the fictional Mars is depicted. The entire time, it was hard for me square the circle of a tiny town with a relatively (for Nebraska) giant crooked and inept hospital flying under the radar with a medical director in his first job out of residency.
Overall, this book reads like a satirical depiction not just of our profit-driven and broken medical system, but of Midwest/rural ignorance and small town "licentiousness". As a fellow family doc, I choose to give the author the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't being intentionally cruel, but I certainly won't be recommending this book to any of my patients and/or any of my fellow compassionate/honest/competent coworkers.
Moreover, the entire premise is flawed as a 200-bed hospital IN NEBRASKA would be one of the 5 largest hospitals in the state and, as such, would never exist in a small podunk town as the fictional Mars is depicted. The entire time, it was hard for me square the circle of a tiny town with a relatively (for Nebraska) giant crooked and inept hospital flying under the radar with a medical director in his first job out of residency.
Overall, this book reads like a satirical depiction not just of our profit-driven and broken medical system, but of Midwest/rural ignorance and small town "licentiousness". As a fellow family doc, I choose to give the author the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't being intentionally cruel, but I certainly won't be recommending this book to any of my patients and/or any of my fellow compassionate/honest/competent coworkers.
December 15, 2024
Received as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Sorry, but this one fell flatt.
This book is barely a story and mostly a combination of generic diary entries and snippets of medical information pamphlets. The scenes with patients seeing Dr. Wave are dull and general information are repeated constantly in several chapters. The book is both incredibly generic and incredibly outrageous at the same time. Every character (and when I say every character I mean everybody) with the exception of the main character and a nurse were so ignorant it felt obnoxious to read. There was actually one good character, Dr. Essex, the surgeon. Unfortunately, this character is removed from the story quickly for being too...incompetent. Ironically, this is only employee at Mars that the CEO decided was a liability, and it's a shame because his segments were funny to read. Dr. Wave (the main character) and his brief interaction with Dr. Essex was the only time I smiled throughout the 300+ pages.
One thing I would like to point out is that this idea of a story would've worked much better as a TV show (if done properly of course). The format in the book was a complete slog to get through.
Sorry, but this one fell flatt.
This book is barely a story and mostly a combination of generic diary entries and snippets of medical information pamphlets. The scenes with patients seeing Dr. Wave are dull and general information are repeated constantly in several chapters. The book is both incredibly generic and incredibly outrageous at the same time. Every character (and when I say every character I mean everybody) with the exception of the main character and a nurse were so ignorant it felt obnoxious to read. There was actually one good character, Dr. Essex, the surgeon. Unfortunately, this character is removed from the story quickly for being too...incompetent. Ironically, this is only employee at Mars that the CEO decided was a liability, and it's a shame because his segments were funny to read. Dr. Wave (the main character) and his brief interaction with Dr. Essex was the only time I smiled throughout the 300+ pages.
One thing I would like to point out is that this idea of a story would've worked much better as a TV show (if done properly of course). The format in the book was a complete slog to get through.
December 29, 2023
Thank you to Book Press Publishing and Dr. Flatt for the free copy to review! I'm giving this book 4 stars, but I doubt many people will enjoy it as much as I did. I can SO relate to Dr. "Wave" in this book because I had a career as a medical professional in a federal prison hospital. So many times I found myself surrounded by negligence, incompetence, and just plain unethical practice. There is so much bureaucracy that, like "Wavesticks" you figure out how be resourceful and resilient, while staying true to your mission within the environment you have been given. I could identify with having administrators that change like the wind and with each new one, a new "program" is pushed (like do more with less.. ect) and the "dog and pony" shows that would ensue during health inspections. I do think that like Sally, Dr. Wave and Dr. Wurst, quite a few of us invested in the place for the long term and made a difference in our patients health. Like them, you have to stay professional, yet bring the level of terminology down to match your patients' level of competency.....and just laugh. Or you'll go crazy. I'm glad this Dr. stuck to his laurels and justice prevailed in the end.
November 13, 2024
MARS HOSPITAL by DR. LOYD FLATT BOOKPRESS PUBLISHING 2024
I enjoyed this satirical fiction novel. It's hard to believe hospitals' problems are outlined as greed, corruption, and laziness which were kept under wraps to pad bills, take kickbacks and free lunches, from drug reps.
The author hopes that this book will change the attitude toward education and health care at the MARS HOSPITAL. I was surprised that the hospital is 180 miles from Omaha in the middle of nowhere. A good part of the population didn't understand simple hygiene.
I enjoyed this satirical fiction novel. It's hard to believe hospitals' problems are outlined as greed, corruption, and laziness which were kept under wraps to pad bills, take kickbacks and free lunches, from drug reps.
The author hopes that this book will change the attitude toward education and health care at the MARS HOSPITAL. I was surprised that the hospital is 180 miles from Omaha in the middle of nowhere. A good part of the population didn't understand simple hygiene.
May 24, 2025
I received a copy of this novel in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
A satirical novel written by a retired clinical physician and medical director that takes a direct swing at every single medical facet you can imagine. From pharmaceutical company bribery to over-prescription of narcotics to uncertified physicians to malpractice and everything in between. It tells the story of Dr. Wave, who comes to Mars hospital for a year, and finds himself in a fight to point out all of the gross issues going on at the hospital and within the administration. It is a very loose story, interspersed with his visits from patients.
Of course, I'm sure there is some truth to this, but in typical satirical fashion, it was grossly over the top and after awhile became mundane.
One main factor I did not like at all was how the patients became a parody of sorts, with the most ridiculous claims. I found it unnecessary, and taking away from what I felt was most likely the true intent of exposing hospital and medical disfunction and misguided motivations by administration. It made me feel that the author was poking fun at the ailments of people, and seemed to be highly discriminating against the poor, the undereducated and those with severe mental health disorders. It bothered me that a mockery was made of patients. It wasn't entertaining to me, even if some of them seemed to be ridiculous patient complaints, where does the line get drawn.
I'd be very interested in the opinions of a medical professional on this book. Parts were entertaining, but eventually, I found myself trudging through it.
A satirical novel written by a retired clinical physician and medical director that takes a direct swing at every single medical facet you can imagine. From pharmaceutical company bribery to over-prescription of narcotics to uncertified physicians to malpractice and everything in between. It tells the story of Dr. Wave, who comes to Mars hospital for a year, and finds himself in a fight to point out all of the gross issues going on at the hospital and within the administration. It is a very loose story, interspersed with his visits from patients.
Of course, I'm sure there is some truth to this, but in typical satirical fashion, it was grossly over the top and after awhile became mundane.
One main factor I did not like at all was how the patients became a parody of sorts, with the most ridiculous claims. I found it unnecessary, and taking away from what I felt was most likely the true intent of exposing hospital and medical disfunction and misguided motivations by administration. It made me feel that the author was poking fun at the ailments of people, and seemed to be highly discriminating against the poor, the undereducated and those with severe mental health disorders. It bothered me that a mockery was made of patients. It wasn't entertaining to me, even if some of them seemed to be ridiculous patient complaints, where does the line get drawn.
I'd be very interested in the opinions of a medical professional on this book. Parts were entertaining, but eventually, I found myself trudging through it.
June 15, 2025
I get what the author was going for but this was way over the top. The patient behaviour and ailments felt very exaggerated. In some sense I can see why this was supposed to make a point and it did to an extent. But it got repetitive a lot beyond a point. Every time it was just Dr. Waves dealing with some issue or the other and complaining to every single authority to try and get something done. It would have been nice if there were more doctors willing to fight for the cause. It's difficult to believe that only one doctor and a nurse (Sally was the best character in the book for sure) were invested in actually treating the patients. Overall, it's a decent medical satire but it felt too crude.
September 30, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for my honest feedback.
As a patient who has had our family doctors join a large medical conglomerate, and thus witnessed the decline of patient care in place of the money making machine, I was interested to read about the view of one of the insiders.
While I think Dr. Flatt made an attempt at exposing, through fiction, some of the ineptness of administrators and doctors, he did so at the expense of the patients. Many of the patients in this book are portrayed as uneducated, poor, dirty dregs of humanity. The CEO is susceptible to whatever the consultants of the day are pitching and continues to try to get buy in from the doctors on staff. He does this while ignoring the shortcomings of the physicians employed in the hospital. Sally was, by far, the best character in the book. The main character, Dr. Wave, was portrayed as the knight in shining armor wielding his reports like a sword against the bureaucracy. It seemed very unlikely that there would not have been at least one ally who would have tried to stand up t0 the CEO with Dr. Wave. Other than the fact that Dr. Slenderman was a heavy set man who was continually eating, I missed the humor in this book.
As a patient who has had our family doctors join a large medical conglomerate, and thus witnessed the decline of patient care in place of the money making machine, I was interested to read about the view of one of the insiders.
While I think Dr. Flatt made an attempt at exposing, through fiction, some of the ineptness of administrators and doctors, he did so at the expense of the patients. Many of the patients in this book are portrayed as uneducated, poor, dirty dregs of humanity. The CEO is susceptible to whatever the consultants of the day are pitching and continues to try to get buy in from the doctors on staff. He does this while ignoring the shortcomings of the physicians employed in the hospital. Sally was, by far, the best character in the book. The main character, Dr. Wave, was portrayed as the knight in shining armor wielding his reports like a sword against the bureaucracy. It seemed very unlikely that there would not have been at least one ally who would have tried to stand up t0 the CEO with Dr. Wave. Other than the fact that Dr. Slenderman was a heavy set man who was continually eating, I missed the humor in this book.
December 2, 2024
Thank you for this complimentary copy of Mars Hospital.
Mars Hospital is described as a "rollicking dark comedy" that follows Dr. Wave as he attempts to overhaul a failing hospital in Mars, Nebraska. Dr. Wave is an intensely unlikable protagonist who swans from vignette to vignette treating his patients and colleagues as if they are idiots and we should applaud him for deigning to provide treatment to these poor fools. Patients are repeatedly fat shamed and described as "dirty birds." He gets the job with no prior experience and then bemoans the fact that the other doctors are unqualified. What on earth did he expect? If the hospital was willing to hire him in his role with zero experience that should have given him a pretty good idea of the standards he could expect.
Overall, this book reads like a compilation of brief stories a medical professional would tell around cocktails to try to entertain a crowd but it just doesn't work as a novel. It would really help if Dr. Wave didn't have such a superiority complex. Unfortunately, his tone and attitude made my skin crawl and I had to stop reading around 150 pages in.
Mars Hospital is described as a "rollicking dark comedy" that follows Dr. Wave as he attempts to overhaul a failing hospital in Mars, Nebraska. Dr. Wave is an intensely unlikable protagonist who swans from vignette to vignette treating his patients and colleagues as if they are idiots and we should applaud him for deigning to provide treatment to these poor fools. Patients are repeatedly fat shamed and described as "dirty birds." He gets the job with no prior experience and then bemoans the fact that the other doctors are unqualified. What on earth did he expect? If the hospital was willing to hire him in his role with zero experience that should have given him a pretty good idea of the standards he could expect.
Overall, this book reads like a compilation of brief stories a medical professional would tell around cocktails to try to entertain a crowd but it just doesn't work as a novel. It would really help if Dr. Wave didn't have such a superiority complex. Unfortunately, his tone and attitude made my skin crawl and I had to stop reading around 150 pages in.
December 12, 2024
I appreciate getting this copy of the book and was truly looking forward to learn about a medical experience in rural America.
I was not able to relate to any of the characters who were presented two dimensionally, even the narrator’s voice was distant.
Except for compassion for two patients, most were presented in a condescending and self righteous manner which I believe was meant to be humorous, but had the opposite effect on me. I felt compassion for them.
I did resonate with the silly programs to instill motivation and efficiency that were epic fails. As an educator, I was exposed to countless such programs throughout my career.
That being said, I encourage the author to continue to pursue this worthwhile topic and seek out a good editor.
I was not able to relate to any of the characters who were presented two dimensionally, even the narrator’s voice was distant.
Except for compassion for two patients, most were presented in a condescending and self righteous manner which I believe was meant to be humorous, but had the opposite effect on me. I felt compassion for them.
I did resonate with the silly programs to instill motivation and efficiency that were epic fails. As an educator, I was exposed to countless such programs throughout my career.
That being said, I encourage the author to continue to pursue this worthwhile topic and seek out a good editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 6, 2024Just not worth reading. The story is amateurish rubbish that rambles through uninteresting exaggerated patient stories where the author seems to have an axe to grind.
June 16, 2024
A dark/satiric comedy about America's medical industry that also takes a shot at small towns. This would be funnier if it weren't so depressingly true. Despite its hyperbolic intent and over-the-top wackiness, it hits hard at the issues that plague these systems and businesses.
Our setting is a small town hospital (possibly the worst in the country). Doctor Wave has taken on a temporary job there. Every chapter is either him seeing a new patient with some ridiculous ailment or meeting with the head of the hospital, who ignores his every concern and takes 'corruption' to a whole new level. The majority of the characters of this town live up to the uneducated, small-minded, and ignorant stereotype of a Nebraskan small-towner. (A strange example is a couple confused about why they can't get pregnant only to find out they'd been having sex using the wrong hole. This town has no sex education, and it shows. Also, the man who was consuming his suppositories like they were pills. That misunderstanding was hard to swallow (pun intended).)
This book was written by a real doctor and shows in the scenes where medical knowledge is relevant. I was amused by the 'work programs,' or whatever the hospital kept wasting money on.
Almost everybody in this book is either stupid or terrible to an unbelievable degree. I was cringing in literal pain at some of these wtf situations. I already have a fear/hatred/mistrust of hospitals and doctors, and I'm feeling those feelings now more than ever.
In particular, I felt terrible for the older woman who got overcharged for things she never got, almost lost her house due to collection agencies, and had to file for bankruptcy. This woman is one of the only characters with an ongoing narrative in the book, and she goes 'through' it. Then, there was the man given unnecessary surgery that was then botched. I could go on and on.
Anyway, I did enjoy this book for what it was. Even if it made me angry more often than it made me laugh. Just demolish this hospital. Tear it down. There's no saving it. And the nursing home while you're at it. The town would be much better off.
The ending was a bit abrupt but, for the most part, satisfying.
And I liked the main character. He was the voice of reason and logic among all the chaos.
Our setting is a small town hospital (possibly the worst in the country). Doctor Wave has taken on a temporary job there. Every chapter is either him seeing a new patient with some ridiculous ailment or meeting with the head of the hospital, who ignores his every concern and takes 'corruption' to a whole new level. The majority of the characters of this town live up to the uneducated, small-minded, and ignorant stereotype of a Nebraskan small-towner. (A strange example is a couple confused about why they can't get pregnant only to find out they'd been having sex using the wrong hole. This town has no sex education, and it shows. Also, the man who was consuming his suppositories like they were pills. That misunderstanding was hard to swallow (pun intended).)
This book was written by a real doctor and shows in the scenes where medical knowledge is relevant. I was amused by the 'work programs,' or whatever the hospital kept wasting money on.
Almost everybody in this book is either stupid or terrible to an unbelievable degree. I was cringing in literal pain at some of these wtf situations. I already have a fear/hatred/mistrust of hospitals and doctors, and I'm feeling those feelings now more than ever.
In particular, I felt terrible for the older woman who got overcharged for things she never got, almost lost her house due to collection agencies, and had to file for bankruptcy. This woman is one of the only characters with an ongoing narrative in the book, and she goes 'through' it. Then, there was the man given unnecessary surgery that was then botched. I could go on and on.
Anyway, I did enjoy this book for what it was. Even if it made me angry more often than it made me laugh. Just demolish this hospital. Tear it down. There's no saving it. And the nursing home while you're at it. The town would be much better off.
The ending was a bit abrupt but, for the most part, satisfying.
And I liked the main character. He was the voice of reason and logic among all the chaos.
November 14, 2024
This is the James Herriot x Scrubs crossover I never knew I needed.
The book is an easy read, and though it's satire the stories are extremely familiar for anyone who has been around healthcare. The incompetent CEO with an an endless parade of consultants; the good doctors just trying to help their patients; the bad doctors trying to make money with as little effort as possible; the medical staff just trying to get on with their jobs and stay out of the madness; and of course, the patients. The patients get equal time as the hospital, and I love this. Each patient is introduced with a complaint that is "in the patient's own words" (which is one of the delightful suggestions of a consultant). This means that we never know what we are in for, and the patient stories are unfailingly humorous. Sometimes it's a patient being amazingly dumb, sometimes it's a patient trying to abuse the system, but sometimes it's a patient that has received a bad education either from health class or even from doctors (misdiagnosis comes into play several times). Most of the stories are kept light, but a few don't have happy endings. Meanwhile, the cast of doctors gets both weirder and more normal with each chapter. I liked that there wasn't a singular "bad guy". Some are absolutely always bad, but others take turns at being terrible in one regard but have valid points in another.
Overall, the book tries to see the lighter side of a very serious and complicated issue, but without painting over any problems. We see the issues that Dr. Wave faces, but Lloyd Flatt mostly stays away from the most tragic parts of healthcare. The book feels real without feeling vindictive. The writing style felt a bit simplistic and I half-expected to see "Will continue to monitor" written at the end of each chapter, but overall an incredibly enjoyable book and I recommend it.
The book is an easy read, and though it's satire the stories are extremely familiar for anyone who has been around healthcare. The incompetent CEO with an an endless parade of consultants; the good doctors just trying to help their patients; the bad doctors trying to make money with as little effort as possible; the medical staff just trying to get on with their jobs and stay out of the madness; and of course, the patients. The patients get equal time as the hospital, and I love this. Each patient is introduced with a complaint that is "in the patient's own words" (which is one of the delightful suggestions of a consultant). This means that we never know what we are in for, and the patient stories are unfailingly humorous. Sometimes it's a patient being amazingly dumb, sometimes it's a patient trying to abuse the system, but sometimes it's a patient that has received a bad education either from health class or even from doctors (misdiagnosis comes into play several times). Most of the stories are kept light, but a few don't have happy endings. Meanwhile, the cast of doctors gets both weirder and more normal with each chapter. I liked that there wasn't a singular "bad guy". Some are absolutely always bad, but others take turns at being terrible in one regard but have valid points in another.
Overall, the book tries to see the lighter side of a very serious and complicated issue, but without painting over any problems. We see the issues that Dr. Wave faces, but Lloyd Flatt mostly stays away from the most tragic parts of healthcare. The book feels real without feeling vindictive. The writing style felt a bit simplistic and I half-expected to see "Will continue to monitor" written at the end of each chapter, but overall an incredibly enjoyable book and I recommend it.
December 8, 2025
The author calls this satire. I don’t think it is, and often its humor punches down
The sections of the book that deal with hospital politics, administrative corruption, and the way incompetent leadership inspires patient care actually rang true. The American healthcare system is broken.
But here, any attempt at satirical absurdity shows up in the wrong places. Some of the patient vignettes were recycled medical jokes that have been floating around for decades. And the attempted humor often punches down. Rural patients are written as clueless, foolish, gross, or backward. It’s exactly the kind of judgment that people fear and prevents them from going to the doctor in the first place. And the author says these vignettes come from his notes practicing medicine, which makes me think this is how he saw his patients.
And reliance on a character’s weight to signal that they’re sloppy, greedy, or inept is the literary equivalent of a cheap shot. It dodges real characterization and reinforces tired, offensive tropes that do harm in the real world.
What’s frustrating is that the hospital sections (the CEO, the bureaucracy, the corruption) could have formed the backbone of an actual dark satire. And the final consultancy set up could have been a thread pulled to make this book the biting, humorous satirical novel it aspires to be.
I don’t doubt the author has seen disturbing things in his medical career. I don’t doubt some stories come from real notes. But the blend of realism & half-hearted caricature & borrowed jokes does not add up to satire.
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Giveaway from BookPress Publishing. This review reflects my own honest opinions.
The sections of the book that deal with hospital politics, administrative corruption, and the way incompetent leadership inspires patient care actually rang true. The American healthcare system is broken.
But here, any attempt at satirical absurdity shows up in the wrong places. Some of the patient vignettes were recycled medical jokes that have been floating around for decades. And the attempted humor often punches down. Rural patients are written as clueless, foolish, gross, or backward. It’s exactly the kind of judgment that people fear and prevents them from going to the doctor in the first place. And the author says these vignettes come from his notes practicing medicine, which makes me think this is how he saw his patients.
And reliance on a character’s weight to signal that they’re sloppy, greedy, or inept is the literary equivalent of a cheap shot. It dodges real characterization and reinforces tired, offensive tropes that do harm in the real world.
What’s frustrating is that the hospital sections (the CEO, the bureaucracy, the corruption) could have formed the backbone of an actual dark satire. And the final consultancy set up could have been a thread pulled to make this book the biting, humorous satirical novel it aspires to be.
I don’t doubt the author has seen disturbing things in his medical career. I don’t doubt some stories come from real notes. But the blend of realism & half-hearted caricature & borrowed jokes does not add up to satire.
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Giveaway from BookPress Publishing. This review reflects my own honest opinions.
November 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It showed what real-life healthcare is really like, but with funny anecdotes that make you want to keep reading to see what else will happen. I appreciate that the lead character was a strong individual that stood up for what is right while maintaining his ethics, because so many people cave to the pressure. And you have to love the cast of characters that are introduced since they provided endless entertainment.
I’m glad that this book has been published because healthcare in this country really is a joke. Even though it was written in a funny, appealing way, the problems addressed in the book are very real and more spotlights need to illuminate the corruption running rampant in healthcare. I work in a different branch of healthcare, but it’s criminal how corrupt healthcare has become. They underpay people providing legitimate services, which leads to many of them going out of business. Yet, they are freely allowing other businesses to charge exorbitant, fraudulent fees so some of them make billions. And the opioid epidemic is a very real concern but is frequently downplayed. The only people suffering are the legitimate pain patients because corrupt doctors pushing opioids to addicts makes it harder for them to get their legitimate prescriptions.
I hope that more people enjoy this book and speak out against institutions that are like Mars Hospital. The author, Dr Flatt, is an amazing and brave person for being daring enough to write this book and for continuing to promote it despite all the pushback he’s gotten from corrupt individuals who don’t want the truth to come out. Thank you!!!!
I’m glad that this book has been published because healthcare in this country really is a joke. Even though it was written in a funny, appealing way, the problems addressed in the book are very real and more spotlights need to illuminate the corruption running rampant in healthcare. I work in a different branch of healthcare, but it’s criminal how corrupt healthcare has become. They underpay people providing legitimate services, which leads to many of them going out of business. Yet, they are freely allowing other businesses to charge exorbitant, fraudulent fees so some of them make billions. And the opioid epidemic is a very real concern but is frequently downplayed. The only people suffering are the legitimate pain patients because corrupt doctors pushing opioids to addicts makes it harder for them to get their legitimate prescriptions.
I hope that more people enjoy this book and speak out against institutions that are like Mars Hospital. The author, Dr Flatt, is an amazing and brave person for being daring enough to write this book and for continuing to promote it despite all the pushback he’s gotten from corrupt individuals who don’t want the truth to come out. Thank you!!!!
December 7, 2024
While you may think this book is a science fiction novel based on its title, it's actually a book about a fictional hospital in the town of Mars, Nebraska.
The book is satirical fiction and is intended to be a dark comedy. However, the author is a retired physician and wrote the book with the intention of bringing to light all of the corruption and the broken health care system in the U.S. In fact, the author sent a letter along with the book that talked about how the book had infuriated many in the health care system, including his own former employer.
I have never worked in the healthcare world, so I have no insight into what goes on behind the scenes. But, where I think the author goes wrong here is being too over the top with some of the patient stories. While the behavior of the hospital administration and the consultants they hire is also over the top (although I think most of is who have worked in corporate America have experienced consultants that come in with absolutely ridiculous ideas), their ignorance is clearly played on to be funny. But the humor and outrageous behavior of the patients goes too far and feels like it is poking fun at people living in a rural town in the middle of the country. This is amplified when the main character finishes his one year contract as medical director at the "backwards" Mars Hospital and lands a more prestigious job at a Boston Hospital.
I think everyone has dealt with the frustrations and difficulties of our healthcare system, and can relate to how broken it seems to be. From that perspective, this is worth the read. But I think toning down the stories around the seeming ignorance of the patients would have made this a better book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is satirical fiction and is intended to be a dark comedy. However, the author is a retired physician and wrote the book with the intention of bringing to light all of the corruption and the broken health care system in the U.S. In fact, the author sent a letter along with the book that talked about how the book had infuriated many in the health care system, including his own former employer.
I have never worked in the healthcare world, so I have no insight into what goes on behind the scenes. But, where I think the author goes wrong here is being too over the top with some of the patient stories. While the behavior of the hospital administration and the consultants they hire is also over the top (although I think most of is who have worked in corporate America have experienced consultants that come in with absolutely ridiculous ideas), their ignorance is clearly played on to be funny. But the humor and outrageous behavior of the patients goes too far and feels like it is poking fun at people living in a rural town in the middle of the country. This is amplified when the main character finishes his one year contract as medical director at the "backwards" Mars Hospital and lands a more prestigious job at a Boston Hospital.
I think everyone has dealt with the frustrations and difficulties of our healthcare system, and can relate to how broken it seems to be. From that perspective, this is worth the read. But I think toning down the stories around the seeming ignorance of the patients would have made this a better book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 5, 2024
A funny, fast paced episodic look at our health care system culled from the experiences of Dr. Lloyd Flatt. While the book is satirical fiction, if even half of what is detailed here actually happened then this could very well be classified as a horror story even more terrifying than anything from King, Barker or Straub. The fictional Dr. Wave, taking on the medical directorship of the local hospital in Mars, Nebraska, encounters a never ending supply of wacky patients, inept doctors, antiquated procedures/equipment, and worst of all, an unscrupulously corrupt, moronic and completely unqualified hospital CEO. The novel flows as Dr. Wave has one hilarious patient encounter after another, fights his mostly uncaring fellow doctors and tries to implement his CEO's ridiculous morale boosting programs (they involve cartoon crabs and firecrackers) all while trying to help those truly in need. Sometimes he succeeds.
The only drawback to the novel is that the episodic style moves quickly and the action sometimes feels rushed and insubstantial as does the ending. The characters could have been more fleshed out as we know little about them outside their interactions within the hospital. I'd have liked the novel to be longer and meatier.
All in all a fun, enjoyable read that highlights some critical issues facing our health care system while generating laughs.
The only drawback to the novel is that the episodic style moves quickly and the action sometimes feels rushed and insubstantial as does the ending. The characters could have been more fleshed out as we know little about them outside their interactions within the hospital. I'd have liked the novel to be longer and meatier.
All in all a fun, enjoyable read that highlights some critical issues facing our health care system while generating laughs.
November 17, 2024
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All of us have experienced co-workers and bosses that we do not agree with at some point in our working careers. A happy ending with good over evil.
* “the CAGE checklist, a standard screen for alcohol abuse frequently administered during patient evaluations. It asks the patient to report whether they’ve felt the need to ‘cut down’ on their drinking, if they have e er been ‘annoyed’ by someone criticizing their alcohol use, whether they’ve ever felt ‘guilty’ after drinking, and whether they’ve used alcohol first thing in the morning as an ‘eye-opener’.”
* “you’ll see there are three main reasons doctors lose their licenses. The most common reason is drugs-either abusing them or inappropriately prescribing them. The second is a felony conviction-usually tax fraud or against, drugs, but occasionally it’s murder, usually a spouse. And the third is sleeping with patients-something psychiatrists seem to do with frequency. Of note, being incompatible not one of these three main reasons. Doctors rarely lose their licenses for being quacks.”
* “it turns out ‘adult baby’ as an identity is indeed a thing. There’s a condition called paraphilic infantilism, where adults think they’re babies.
* “the CAGE checklist, a standard screen for alcohol abuse frequently administered during patient evaluations. It asks the patient to report whether they’ve felt the need to ‘cut down’ on their drinking, if they have e er been ‘annoyed’ by someone criticizing their alcohol use, whether they’ve ever felt ‘guilty’ after drinking, and whether they’ve used alcohol first thing in the morning as an ‘eye-opener’.”
* “you’ll see there are three main reasons doctors lose their licenses. The most common reason is drugs-either abusing them or inappropriately prescribing them. The second is a felony conviction-usually tax fraud or against, drugs, but occasionally it’s murder, usually a spouse. And the third is sleeping with patients-something psychiatrists seem to do with frequency. Of note, being incompatible not one of these three main reasons. Doctors rarely lose their licenses for being quacks.”
* “it turns out ‘adult baby’ as an identity is indeed a thing. There’s a condition called paraphilic infantilism, where adults think they’re babies.
November 5, 2024
One might be excused for thinking that this is a science fiction novel, especially as you read the chapters of the book dedicated to the clinical portion of the protagonist's day. The novel intersperses chapters of the clinic with chapters of working in his new medical director position role, and the otherworldly experiences of dealing with both the hospital administration and many of the doctors on staff.
I'm reminded a bit of the Samuel Shem novel "The House of God", except in this case, there are no GOMERS who don't die, many poorly treated patients do. There are very few positive medical personnel in this book, really just a nurse, a pediatrician and the protagonist himself.
I would hope that many of the stories and indictments of the medical industry in this book are no longer as relevant as they may have been years ago. I would imagine that most hospitals now require their doctors to be board certified or at least board eligible to work.
This book was amusing, especially the clinic stories.
I'm reminded a bit of the Samuel Shem novel "The House of God", except in this case, there are no GOMERS who don't die, many poorly treated patients do. There are very few positive medical personnel in this book, really just a nurse, a pediatrician and the protagonist himself.
I would hope that many of the stories and indictments of the medical industry in this book are no longer as relevant as they may have been years ago. I would imagine that most hospitals now require their doctors to be board certified or at least board eligible to work.
This book was amusing, especially the clinic stories.
February 12, 2025
I think satire may be the most difficult genre. When it succeeds, like "Catch-22" "Mash", SNL and "Innocents Abroad", it is magical. I did not find "Mars Hospital" magic or even funny. It is difficult to isolate what makes good satire. Is it over the top absurdity like the old show "Green Acre"? "Mars Hospital" is definitely over the top. Is it the importance of the subject matter? Healthcare or more importantly, the lack of decent healthcare is certainly important, but somehow, healthcare in this book is more simply sad. It does not bring forth outrage, but weariness. I applaud Dr. Flatt's attempt to tackle the critical issue of healthcare in his book and his attempt to do so using humor, but it did not accomplish what appears to be his target. Perhaps the fault is this reader. Perhaps my view is the result of exposure to so much appalling and absurd actions that are taking place in our government has worn me down to the appalling and absurd characters and actions in"Mars Hospital".
September 9, 2024
In this darkly humorous comedy, Dr. Wave goes into a year-long fight against a bureaucracy upheld by a fiercely corrupt administrator who refuses to budge in any way. Wave juggles some of the worst medical cases of his career while he is managing a variety of MD’s who may not even have their Medical Board certifications. Meanwhile, the hospital’s CEO is intent on spending any spare dime of the hospital’s on weird and loopy business development programming. With trying to balance all of the balls that he must, will Wave be able to save Mars hospital, or will he have to give up and move on in his career to a different hospital? Entertaining read!
May 10, 2025
I bought this book as used. I found it to be a very crude satire. Since he claims to be a physician I'm going to assume that he was not well respected. I hate how he wrote about his patients and about other Physicians. If I was one of his patients and found myself to be in this book I'd be seeing him in court. How dare he speak of any patient this way or any physician. I actually got this book at the recycle center . I've actually found pretty good books to read from the recycle center but this was definitely not one. I found it rude crude and obnoxious. Maybe this is why he is retired but book writing is not his Forte
June 18, 2025
Mars Hospital- Dr. Lloyd Flatt 4.5/5⭐️
I really enjoyed taking my time reading this one. It was semi- fictionalized, satirical look at this Dr’s past as Hospital Director, in a small rural midwestern hospital.
The people that come in, some of them are ridiculous. The ridiculous behavior includes the reasoning they come in for treatment. The book is funny & relevant to today’s hospital climate.
I don’t know how the Dr. kept his composure- even dealing with certain internal employee situations.
Overall this is a fun one to read all at once, but even more so slowly, when you can absorb everything together fully.
This is also an Ebook, as well as print copy.
I really enjoyed taking my time reading this one. It was semi- fictionalized, satirical look at this Dr’s past as Hospital Director, in a small rural midwestern hospital.
The people that come in, some of them are ridiculous. The ridiculous behavior includes the reasoning they come in for treatment. The book is funny & relevant to today’s hospital climate.
I don’t know how the Dr. kept his composure- even dealing with certain internal employee situations.
Overall this is a fun one to read all at once, but even more so slowly, when you can absorb everything together fully.
This is also an Ebook, as well as print copy.
November 30, 2025
Mars Hospital is over-the-top, funny fiction story about
a hospital in Mars, Nebraska.
Some parts were dark and funny; some parts I cringed.
There is lots of corruption and kickbacks at this hospital, over the top and
exaggerated.
I did not connect with the characters right away, it took some chapters before
I can visualize or feel their personalities.
At times I felt bad for Dr. Wave fighting alone to make things right for the
at this hospital.
Overall, I did enjoy reading Mars Hospital.
If you are in the health industry or know someone who is, I think this is really
a hospital in Mars, Nebraska.
Some parts were dark and funny; some parts I cringed.
There is lots of corruption and kickbacks at this hospital, over the top and
exaggerated.
I did not connect with the characters right away, it took some chapters before
I can visualize or feel their personalities.
At times I felt bad for Dr. Wave fighting alone to make things right for the
at this hospital.
Overall, I did enjoy reading Mars Hospital.
If you are in the health industry or know someone who is, I think this is really
October 26, 2024
Mars Hospital by Dr. Lloyd Flatt is a medical satire book. As with many areas of life there are both good and not-so-good individuals. This book mainly exaggerates happenings with the latter group of doctors, medical administration, and insurance companies.
Being satire, I found this to be a quick and humorous read. I am not in the medical profession. If I was, I may have had a different reaction.
I received the books as a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Being satire, I found this to be a quick and humorous read. I am not in the medical profession. If I was, I may have had a different reaction.
I received the books as a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
November 22, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and let me tell you I was shocked by the way these doctors and administrators behaved. Also, I found myself cackling at the reasons for clinic visits and the knowledge or lack thereof of some of these patients. I laughed so hard at one part that I was crying. Very entertaining read! Also scary to think that the administration of any medical facility could be this awful in today’s time and not put patient’s first! If you’re in the medical field, read this. Like I said, very entertaining and draws concern to medical care!
September 7, 2025
Well, ummmmmmmmmmmm, this was bad. The characters were over the top, the doctor's cases were ridiculous, and the story, although probably true, was frustrating as hell. From the author's account, the citizens of Mars don't wash their backsides, don't understand how reproduction works, want bigger wieners, and don't have a brain cell among them. The Crabby program and the Firecracker program just seem so ludicrous to not be true. The good thing about this book, was it was a quick and east read. It wasn't funny. It wasn't silly. It wasn't thought provoking. It was annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2024
Thank you for the free copy of this book to review! I found it entertaining, a quick and easy read! Many amusing patient stories, quite the picture of small-town medical care, makes you wonder about the extent of the exaggeration. The story shows how hard change can be and helps us appreciate those in the medical field out there trying to do their best and the right thing for patients, despite what bureaucracy dictates.
January 3, 2025
You know those books where when you finish them you're a little relieved that you're done with it? This was unfortunately one of those for me. I felt like there wasn't much plot. The main character, Dr. Wave, was supposed to be likable, but I couldn't get past his huge superiority complex. Nearly every patient is made out to be dumb.. Same with the other doctors. It seemed more like diary snippets from Dr. Wave than an actual story.
January 18, 2025
I received a free copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway. It was pretty entertaining, and I enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately, some of the situations in the book were extremely unrealistic. I understand that it is a satire, but I feel that it still needs to have a certain level of realism; otherwise, it almost feels too cartoonish to make a solid point. Overall, I did enjoy this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 3, 2025
I received this book from Goodreads. I am so happy! For a first book by this author, Dr Lloyd Flatt, it was mesmerizing. I had a hard time putting it down. The antics and downright carelessness of some individuals in this small town is so sad. If I lived in that area, I would move, fast! I look forward to additional books by this doctor. Thanks for keeping me entertained, amazed and up late at night reading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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