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Providing Patients With Knowledge
The Healthcare Appointment Playbook is a practical, no-nonsense guide that simplifies the healthcare system by providing readers with insights into different healthcare providers, demystifying insurance, and preparing patients for healthcare appointments. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The book was important to write because every time I see a new patient and she tells me that I am the first provider to ask about her health history, explain things clearly, allow her to ask questions, and keep things real, I realize that all patients should have the same experience. When I open a patient’s chart and see that her history hasn’t been entered or updated, it breaks my heart. It means that someone didn’t care enough about her to get to know her and educate her on her health risks.
Patients are getting sicker earlier in their lives and are spending more on their healthcare. Patients need to know about the timing of health screenings, be educated about prevention, and know the consequences of lifestyle decisions on their health.
Healthcare providers rely on our patients for their jobs; but I believe healthcare is the only service industry that is provider-driven rather than patient-driven, and this must change. Patients need to have the knowledge to take control of their appointments—to ask questions, seek clarification, explore treatment options and optimize their healthcare appointments. They also need resources and tools to live healthy lives, and I wanted to create a wellness guide to show that leading a healthy life can be simple and affordable.
What is your background and experience, and how did it help you write this book?
I have been an Advanced Practice Provider since March 2001 and have had the same employer throughout this time. I know this is rare today. I reached the salary cap nine years ago, but I stay because I love my patients and want to do right by them. I am the healthcare provider today because patients trust me enough to include me in their lives. I’ve learned from their stories and experiences, understanding their struggles and distrust of the healthcare system. Although I no longer attend deliveries, I now care for the women I helped bring into this world.
Since the Affordable Care Act, women’s healthcare providers can serve as primary care providers. I embraced this role to provide continuity of care and to continue caring for women beyond their women’s healthcare needs.
My psychology degree has given me insight into the mind-body connection, showing how my patients’ lives outside the exam room impact their physical and mental health. My business degree has increased my awareness of healthcare economics and how patients are affected.
The combination of my clinical experience and education helped me to write the book.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to demystify the healthcare experience for patients and provide a comprehensive guide to navigating the healthcare system. I aimed to explain what to expect, what their rights are as patients, what questions to ask, why healthcare providers do what they do, what are common illnesses that shorten lifespan and to offer a simple wellness guide that helps patients prevent illness and disease. I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Healthcare Appointment Playbook?
That patients can have some control over their healthcare visits.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
The Healthcare Appointment Playbook: Understanding the System to Get the Care You Deserve
The Healthcare Appointment Playbook is a practical, no-nonsense guide aimed at empowering patients, especially women, to navigate the complexities of today’s broken healthcare system. Drawing on over two decades of experience as a nurse-midwife and primary care provider, Barbara Alif Doran strips away the mystery and intimidation that too often accompany doctor visits. With warmth, clarity, and the occasional jab at the frustrating bureaucracy of modern medicine, Doran explains what patients should expect during visits, how to advocate for themselves, and why prevention is key to long-term health.
What I liked most about this book was its genuine voice. Doran calls out systemic problems like insurance hoops, rushed appointments, and provider burnout, with the kind of honest frustration that only someone inside the system can express. And yet, the tone isn’t bitter. It’s hopeful. She believes deeply in the power of patients to reclaim control, and that conviction pulses through every chapter. Her personal stories, particularly the one about a patient named Anne who eventually agreed to manage her high blood pressure on her own terms, made the advice feel real and reachable.
Parts of the book did make me feel sad and even angry. The way our healthcare system pushes quantity over quality isn’t new to me, but hearing it from a provider who’s lived it and burned out because of it really drove the point home. But Doran isn’t just venting. She’s teaching. Every tip, whether it’s about preparing questions for your visit or knowing your legal rights, feels like a lifeline thrown into murky water. I appreciated her straightforward language, too. No medical jargon. No corporate-speak. Just one person talking to another about how to stay healthy and get the care you deserve.
This book is for anyone who’s ever walked into a clinic feeling confused, ignored, or powerless and wanted to do something about it. It’s especially helpful for women navigating complex medical needs or caring for others, but honestly, the tools here are useful for everyone. If you’ve ever left an appointment wondering what just happened, or if you’re tired of feeling like your health is in someone else’s hands, then read this.
Pages: 206 | ASIN : B0F69B1PZK
Signs and Symptoms
Nurse Florence, Why Do I Need to Eat Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin? teaches children about the importance of these vitamins, how they get them into their diet, and how the body uses them to function. What is the most interesting thing about B12 and Cobalamin for you?
This special vitamin is only synthesized by certain bacteria. Human symbiosis with bacteria is obvious with this necessary nutrient.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I like sharing what signs and symptoms show deficiencies of vitamins in the Nurse Florence series. This helps people start to be more aware of their bodies.
Where did the name Nurse Florence come from, and why did you decide to use this as the name of the series?
Nurse Florence is in homage to the great Florence Nightingale from England in the 1800s. She pioneered single-handedly modern nursing. She helped create the first nursing school. She advocated for cleaner and safer hospitals around the world. We owe her a lot and need to honor her.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Nurse Florence, Why Do I Need a Flu Shot? should come out by the end of November 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Sometimes it seems only a nurse can bring technical information down to an understanding that an ordinary person can grasp. The Nurse Florence(R) book series provides high quality medical information that even a child can grasp. By introducing young kids to correct terminology and science concepts at an early age, we can help increase our children’s health literacy level as well as help to prepare them for courses and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We need more scientists so I hope that many children will enjoy this book series and consider a job involving science. Introducing Some Medical Words to Kids in Every Book(R) A Movement of Global Health Promotion and Literacy Dow Creative Enterprises(R) Help Civilization Reach Its Potential
Knowledge Is Power
The Power of Your Spine: How Back Strength and Posture Pilots the Entire Body explains to readers the vital function of back muscles and the spine and how to care for this important area of the body. Why was this an important book for you to write?
One reason this book was important for me to write, which is the core of all my books, is to help educate people to help them heal, support, maintain, and exercise their bodies safely. I often say, “Knowledge is power.” I wanted to teach the power of this spine.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
In this book I share illustrations of muscles that we all have. In order for me to teach the “Power” of the spine, readers need the visuals in these illustrations for better learning and understanding.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about back pain?
I find a big misconception about back care and muscles is the “cliche” of what the core muscles are. In social media we often see posts and videos with strong titles like “3 best exercises for your core” or “number one exercise everyone should do for their core” etc. The “core” also includes the many deep muscles in the spine.
These deeper muscles play essential roles in walking, standing, posture, balance, stabilization, and movement. If they are weak and/or ignored the larger muscles try to do the smaller muscles jobs and this causes malfunction, injury, and pain.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
A gain of knowledge. Once the knowledge shared in this book is known, this can help the reader find a knowledgeable trainer, chiropractor, physical therapist, and more. If professionals helping me heal or in therapy do not know the purpose of all the muscles and how they work together as a team, they cannot help to the extent most people need. For example, if someone is going to a personal trainer, physical therapist, or massage therapist for back care (posture, pain, strengthening, etc.), these professionals should know all the muscles in this book.
Also, many professionals hand a patient/client a piece of paper with exercises to go home and do. Well, the paper is usually the same for every person with back pain. Its usually not based on the individual’s personal situation. This leaves people unable to heal or get more injured.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Tracy L. Markley details the vital function of back muscles and bones as key powerhouses to your physical wellness. While back pain is a common complaint among people for various reasons, you don’t need to suffer chronic distress.
Learn how different body parts work together and, if not cared for, work against each other to nourish or diminish your quality of life. You’ll also discover the importance of taking care of your core—how to do it effectively—and discover comprehensive ways to better your posture and promote spinal stabilization so that issues like sciatica are controlled for good.
Whether you’re healthy, suffering from an injury, or seeking to ease the impacts of aging and lifestyle on your body, this dual anatomy and reference resource literally has your back.
The Power of Your Spine book is available it two paperback editions. One is in a colored edition and one is a black and white edition. The kindle edition is always in color.
The Power of Your Spine: How Back Strength and Posture Pilots the Entire Body
The Power of Your Spine: How Back Strength and Posture Pilots the Entire Body by Tracy L. Markley is an exceptionally enlightening and valuable book that takes readers on a profound exploration of our physical beings. Tracy’s motivation to write this book stems from her interactions with individuals, aiming to foster an understanding of our bodies’ fundamental composition: bones and muscles. She emphasizes that comprehending the intricate workings of each muscle, both independently and in synergy with others, holds the key to cultivating a healthy and pain-free physique. By prioritizing good posture, exercise, and providing our bodies with proper care, we can significantly enhance our physical well-being, thus elevating our overall quality of life.
The book’s composition showcases Tracy’s masterful craftsmanship, characterized by an amiable yet highly informative tone that resonates with readers of all backgrounds. One notable example is Tracy’s inclusion of anatomical terms. The author thoughtfully incorporates illustrations throughout the book, facilitating clear comprehension of muscle identification and function. Consequently, readers can grasp the knowledge imparted by the book and overcome the challenges associated with anatomical terminology.
While the author acknowledges the relevance of the book to individuals in recovery or older age groups, I firmly believe that its usefulness extends to people of all demographics. In our contemporary society, where rapid-paced living and technological advancements dominate, many of us find ourselves bound to chairs or computer screens for prolonged periods. Moreover, poor posture, although an individual concern, affects a substantial portion of the population. Understanding the root causes of bodily discomfort and equipping ourselves with the knowledge to alleviate such pain becomes imperative for leading a pain-free existence.
The Power of Your Spine: How Back Strength and Posture Pilots the Entire Body by Tracy L. Markley is a book that should be embraced by everyone, as it empowers individuals to alleviate existing pain and prevent future discomfort. Personally, I intend to return to this invaluable resource repeatedly, employing it as an essential tool to guide my exercise routines and self-care practices.
Pages: 114 | ASIN : B07XDC3FMR
LITERARY TITAN 