Man's 4th Best Hospital

By: Samuel Shem

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

The sequel to the best-selling and highly acclaimed The House of God

Years after the events of The House of God, the Fat Man has been given leadership over a new Future of Medicine Clinic at what is now only Man's 4th Best Hospital, and has persuaded Dr. Roy Basch and some of his intern cohorts to join him to teach a new generation of interns and residents. In a medical landscape dominated by computer screens and corrupted by money, they have one goal: to make medicine humane again.

What follows is a mesmerizing, heartbreaking, and hilarious exploration of how the health-care industry, and especially doctors, have evolved over the past 30 years.

©2019 Samuel Shem (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Samuel Shem has challenged generations of doctors in his writing to think deeply about why they chose medicine. His novels illuminate the humanistic core of clinical care, and serve as a bulwark against a system increasingly characterized by avarice and anonymity.” (Jerome Groopman, MD, author of How Doctors Think)

“If you want to know why the doctor spends all visit looking at a computer instead of you, and if you want to know how the doctor feels about it, this is the book for you: a mordantly funny tour through modern medicine with a powerful prescription for how to change." (Bill McKibben, best-selling author of The End of Nature and Radio Free Vermont)

“As he did in The House of God, Samuel Shem provides a bitter, caustic and overdue update on the cold and bureaucratic world that awaits the sick and the dying if they are lucky enough to be able to afford it.” (Arthur Caplan, professor of Bioethics at New York University Langone Medical Center)

All too true

First, I love listening to Sean Runette (the voice of Roland Merullo's Buddha series - also first rate).
As a health care provider with over 50 years experience, I loved this. The decline of the American medical system is all too real. I have my own set of horror stories about insurance companies, billing errors, and the worst of all: electronic medical records! Yes, it takes 65 clicks to write a simple prescription!
While this is a fictional tale, the situations are all too real, and getting worse. The almightly dollar reigns supreme, and we are not patients but customers, often unable to decipher the maze of medical/legal information.
The stories do wander a bit but overall, this is a great snapshot of medical practice today.
I think this quote from one of docs is the summary of the medical dilemma today: Their mission is monetary!

Fantastic sequel to the House of God

Lovely book with a bittersweet ending. Talks a lot of truth about modern medicine using the characters of our very beloved first book. It’s lovely to see how they all turned out.

Love

This book helps me love myself always it is because the best, okay? I love you.

Incredible Story of Doctors versus Admin

Phenomenal book about doctor trying to bring humanity back into medicine. Definitely, a different style compared to his original House of God but still good. Great read.

Great stuff

I loved House of God, and I loved this story as well. 40 years and medicine has changed a lot, but I do not think it is for the better. It is nice to imagine that WE are not alone as healthcare providers.

The truth about medicine

As a physician this story rings true with what it is truly like to practice medicine at the present time.

Outstanding

Amazing sequel to House of God. A modern day telling of Knights of the Round Table. As a medical student this was a must read. Thank you Samuel Shem for everything you've done and I hope to hear more in the future!

Nailed it!

Once again Shem gives readers a view into the world of the physicians who want to care for patients but instead are at the mercy of the c-suite. Corporate greed, the strain of EMR on providers, and staying human and connected in medicine are explored. Fantastic!

Modern spin on "House of God"

I remain partial to the original "House of God," but it was nice to see Shem return with the modern update.

sad satire of acute medical care in US

Sad but accurate commentary of current US health care system. Calls a spade a spade here.