Curable: How an Unlikely Group of Radical Innovators is Trying to Transform our Health Care System

by Travis Christofferson

Smart metrics, slow thinking, off-label drugs, and a “Moneyball” prescription for fixing modern medicine--by the author of Tripping Over the Truth



The United States is fast becoming the sickest nation in the Western world. Cancer rates continue to rise. There is an epidemic of chronic disease in children. Even with all the money and modern innovations in science, the country’s health care system is beyond broken. Clearly there is a glitch in the system. But what if the solution has been here all along, and we’ve just been too blind to see it?

In Curable journalist and health care advocate Travis Christofferson looks at medicine through a magnifying glass and asks an important What if the roots of the current US health care crisis are psychological and systemic, perpetuated not just by corporate influence and the powers that be, but by you and me? It is now known that human perception is based on deeply entrenched patterns of irrational thought, which we attach ourselves to religiously. So how does this implicate the very scientific research and data that doctors rely on to successfully treat their patients?

A page-turning inquiry into a “moneyball approach to medicine,” Curable explores the links between revolutionary baseball analytics; Nobel Prize–winning psychological research on confirmation bias; wildly successful maverick economic philosophy; the history of the radical mastectomy and the rise of the clinical trial; cutting edge treatments routinely overlooked by regulatory bodies; and outdated medical models that prioritize profit over prevention. As stark as things are, Christofferson asks us to see health care not as a toppling house of cards, but as a badly organized system that is inherently fixable. How do we fix it? First we must reframe the conflict between doctors’ intuition and statistical data. Then we must design better systems that can support doctors who are increasingly overwhelmed with the complexity of modern medicine.

Curable outlines the future of medicine, detailing brilliant examples of new health care systems that prove we can do better. It turns out we have more control over our health (and happiness) than we think.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Medicine, Medical, Audiobook, Science

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2019

Reviews

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting discussion in a well-laid out format. Illness and disease are on the rise. Medical treatment costs are on the rise. Discussion times in alternatives in care have, however, have decreased. Scrutinizing a system that is merely treading water and engaging in debates on how to frame and address the healthcare dilemmas facing the US has become necessary. Curable, seeks to look at the system through fresh eyes and new perspectives using various theoretical frameworks. I can sum up this book in three words: Informative, well-written and thought-provoking.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely needed now. Our health care system is a bloated juggernaut that seems to do more harm than good to many trapped within it and is only getting more and more costly for everyone, even those not in it. Something needs to change and this book is one of the steps in the right direction. It's not perfect, hence the 4 and not five stars, but it is pretty darn tootin close.

He brings up a lot of good points on how the health care system can be adapted to better serve all, doctors included. 1) salaries for doctors so they don't have to worry about what services to bill for, 2) look at drugs that are out of patent for other diseases they can be used effectively for, 3) data based approach on how to best treat diseases, rather than a different treatment from each doctor, without knowledge of how those different treatments actually work, 4) FOR THE LOVE OF GOODNESS, WASH YOUR FREAKIN HANDS IN A HOSPITAL, 5) checklists before, during and after surgery that have been shown to decrease post-op infections and complications, the list goes on.

This does not take away from our own personal responsibility to make our health our priority and take care of ourselves and educate ourselves on our health issues so we can work WITH the doctors and nurses rather than place the burden of "fixing" us completely on them. But that's my personal pet peeve. :D

I am ordering this book so I can really go in-depth in the bibliography, which is HUGE. Already added a few books he mentioned in the text, so Mt. TBR isn't going down anytime soon.

4.5 stars, rounded down to 4, because he said something positive about statins and I have first hand seen how they DESTROYED someone I love, so EFF STATINS! That is my personal opinion and I am sure there is someone out there who blesses them, but since stars are opinion, I choose to remove one based off of my intense hatred for that drug.

Other than that, highly recommend this book!

My thanks to NetGalley and Chelsea Green Publishing for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this well-researched look at the history of our medical system until NetGalley's temporary ARC self destructed as I was halfway through it. I loved what I read so far (it's always a good plug for a book when I share interesting information from books with my hubby and older kids) but I'll have to update my review after getting a library copy to finish. I did enjoy it enough that I'm definitely requesting a copy to finish up (after I pay my poor husband's fines for keeping The Coddling of the American Mind and Sergie Boutenko's Wild Edibles out too long on his card). I'm looking forward to reading the second half and really wish Adobe Digital Editions didn't delete their review copies after 50 days. It can be hard to leave thorough reviews of long books when you're reading many books at one time and there's a short window of time for you to properly read them and review them.

[Theresamarie1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

knowledge is power. always do your own research and get a 2nd opinion.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this book, Christofferson argues a new way of looking at health care. Based on historical investigation, modern scientific methods, statistical calculation and the boundless energy and enthusiasm for change harnessed by a group of men determined to make a difference, Christofferson argues that the limping, piecemeal, archaic health care system we have in the United States can be revolutionized and made to work more efficiently. He includes specific modern and historical health care anecdotes as well as scintillating character portrayals of scientists and innovators, both informing and entertaining the reader and engendering excitement about the industry and those dedicated to reforming it.

I found this book quite fascinating, and definitely worth a read if you’re remotely interested in the modern and historical workings of the health care industry. The author’s ability to convey personality within the biographies and his evident enthusiasm for the subject make for an easy and enjoyable read, and the details that are tucked away about the medical system – both historically and today – are thought-provoking. I loved this book as a window into a system that often seems chaotic and inscrutable, though at points it wasn’t really a comforting examination of the system. Christofferson conveys both concern for the current system, and a boundless excitement for what a new, reconceived, truly modern health system could be. While I wasn’t absolutely convinced by some of the bright, shiny ideas that peppered the book, I found a lot to enjoy in the read, and even more to think about. Highly recommended.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

An academic view of the history and evolution of the healthcare system and all its faults. Interesting at times, dry at times, which is understandable. Would recommend if you want a different perspective on the ideas and debates surrounding this topic. Not a book to sit down and read in a setting, but interesting and worth the time.

[Heather Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curable is a interesting and informative book. It gives you a different perspectives about the issues with the healthcare issued that we face. Well written.

[Matthew C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little different from what I was expecting based on the title, but still interesting stuff.

[Bradley Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the problems with the health care system in the U.S. with examples of where efforts are being made to improve our system. The highlight for me is the conclusion that many of our ills as a society stem from what some call a Loneliness Epidemic. Another is that this is the Age of the System. We're going from the molecular to the system and we need to pay attention to how things connect. How our physical and mental health are interconnected. It lays out the barrier to improving our healthcare system and presents options for improvement.

[Paul Han · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book until the conclusion, and then argument fell apart. Christofferson suggests that physicians are incentivized by profit (at the cost of patient outcomes) and that hospital systems could provide better outcomes. But aren’t many hospital system similarly incentivized by financial gain? Overall, some nice ideas here, but as the author points out, the ending often is what matters most.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

So mad!! Ihc has “saved” by outsourcing, stretching each employee beyond capacity, and replacing Wonderful care with passable! While Moneyball statistics is great for sports let’s keep it to the arena,
Balance in all things! The person in front of you is Not a freaking number!! Ihc not for profit shame on you!!

[Petter Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inarguably important topics and a few really good takeaways (the limits of RCT in particular - kind of known but well laid out here). Although somewhat curiously argued (e.g. lots of Moneyballing...) and with more than usual "second order" research, it's still a worthwhile (and not too long) read.

[Becky L Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Maybe health care will be fixed soon.

[Tram-Anh Huynh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly enjoyed all the quotes by Kahneman...

[Hjalti Thorsteinsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

enlightening

I enjoyed reading the book.
Not just elightening but also a practical guide to review ones life, well being and ones happiness, collectively and in the moment.

[Stephen Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

How the failings of modern healthcare are curable, or at least able to learn from its mistakes, through a number of good insights, such as taking a statistical led approach to support doctors, incentivising around outcome instead of profit, and being open to learning about scientific progress. Key insights told through fascinating stories of patient care and leading luminaries, I was surprised to find this book so interesting to read, its breadth of scope linking medicine, psychology and management.

[Vicky Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting content but mostly geared around the US healthcare system so not entirely relevant to a UK audience. Lots of interesting information about things like clinical trials and how medicine has progressed over the years tho.

[Fabian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Points out that the medical practice is made up of humans and humans tend to make errors in judgment due to cognitive biases very frequently.

Also how the wrong incentives essentially create a business culture within hospitals ...

I like the authors linke between Munger & Kahneman and the misjudgments in the health care system.