Code Blue: A Writer's Guide to Hospitals, Including the ER, OR and ICU (Behind the Scenes) [Paperback]

Keith D. Wilson (Author), David W. Page (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0898799376 | ISBN-13: 978-0898799378 | Publication Date: November 1999 | Edition: 1

From long-running TV series such as M A S H, General Hospital and ER, to best-selling fiction including Toxin, Miracle Cure and Bloodstream, the public's enduring fascination with hospitals is evidenced in virtually every medium. This all-inclusive guide profiles every aspect of the modern hospital, so writers can accurately recreate the day-to-day realities of patients, doctors, treatments, administration and more. Major sections cover: Admissions-walk-ins, EMS arrivals, medi-flights Facilities-ER, nurses station, pharmacy, ICU, radiology, surgical unit; Information and Records-charts, medications, 'codes'; Patient Testing and Examinations-treatment programs, support services, security

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Keith Wilson is the author of Writer's Digest's Cause of Death, and his medical thriller, Life Form (Putnam Berkeley) has been optioned by a film production company. Toledo, Ohio. Dr. David Page is the author of Body Trauma.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1 edition (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898799376
• ISBN-13: 978-0898799378
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,313,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but Misses the Mark, April 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Code Blue: A Writer's Guide to Hospitals, Including the ER, OR and ICU (Behind the Scenes) (Paperback)

I found this book to be very interesting and well-written, but I think it misses the mark as "A Writer's Guide to Hospitals." Maybe it was a bit too ambitious (that's a very broad topic) or maybe the two authors had a different idea of the book's purpose, but I found it vacillated between a soapbox for one author's disenchantment with the medical system in America today (a disenchantment I share) and a good survey of how a hospital works for hospital workers. Here and there I found the type of information I expected to find (what the mood is in certain areas of the hospital, where the power lies, a sample of dialog, and so on), but that was unfortunately the smallest part of the book. The glossaries are helpful and well-written (but not complete -- "Stat" is missing). Though the history section is interesting (I love history), maybe it should have been left out so they could devote more time to what writers need. I'm glad I read it, but didn't really provide me with the info I need for two medical scenes in my novel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and informative guide, November 3, 2000

By 

Kevin Pezzi, MD (Thompsonville, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Code Blue: A Writer's Guide to Hospitals, Including the ER, OR and ICU (Behind the Scenes) (Paperback)

"Code Blue" is a great introduction to hospitals for anyone interested in this topic. While the book's title suggests that it is intended as a tool for writers, I think that many other people would like to have a more comprehensive understanding of the practice of medicine in this venue. This book has been criticized by other readers, and the common thread in their dissatisfactions seems to stem from the fact that this book doesn't offer a detailed explanation of everything that might possibly occur in a hospital. If such a book were to exist, it would be infinitely long and comparably expensive. Working within the bounds of practicality, I think that Drs. Wilson and Page have done a superb job of providing an overview of this subject. If you're looking for highly detailed knowledge on a specific subject you will likely need to perform further research, but that should not be construed as being a criticism of this book. Bottom line: A well-written and informative guide that will give you an insider's view of hospitals. (Review by Kevin Pezzi, MD [...], author of "Believe It or Not! True Emergency Room Stories" and "Fascinating Health Secrets".)

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, May 4, 2009

By 

Shepherd Mommy "Bonnie R." (Southern NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Code Blue: A Writer's Guide to Hospitals, Including the ER, OR and ICU (Behind the Scenes) (Paperback)

This book is very informative for those writing about the ER, especially if you want to know what goes on behind the scenes. It is written so that a person with little to no medical knowledge can easily follow and understand and there is even a bit of humor.

If you are looking for more specific details on diagnosis or different treatment options for certain ailments, you will need to have an actual medical contact person.