Dr. Camus is a jerk. The whole hospital loathes him. His patients loathe him. And the hospital's CEO really loathes him. The staff want him to just take the blue pill from The Matrix and wake up to reality—or is it the green pill? He's also not a very good doctor, as he doesn't realize that none of his patients actually have pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoniosis, his favorite Wikipedia-inspired diagnosis.
But Rosencrantz the CEO can't replace him without immense cost and time; it is cheaper to provide a censor to follow Camus around and cover up his insults than find a new doctor. When Dr. Camus starts sending all of his patients to the Good Hospital up the street, Mr. Rosencrantz the CEO has a brilliant idea—a one-month suspension without pay, and hypnotism by the Amazing Ralph to change Camus's behavior.
After Dr. Camus comes back a changed man, he faces all of the same challenges as before. Can he and Rosencrantz together save his humanity and the hospital's bottom line? Probably not, but it's a good time anyway.
Review
"A witty, satirical spoof of a cynical physician's transformation. This story demonstrates Jones' wild versatility as an author and will likely attract the readers who enjoyed his candid memoir." -Kirkus Reviews
"Readers looking for solid examples of contemporary satire...will find HOSPITAL! offers non-stop laughter alongside thought-provoking inspections." -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review"In HOSPITAL! (A Medical Satire of Unhealthy Proportions), Kyle Bradford Jones draws on the absurdity of human character to craft a tale that is as good-humored as it is humorous." -IndieReader
"While this book may not be everyone's cup of pee, I do recommend it to fans of satire, people who like hospital comedies, and readers who enjoy untalented curmudgeons with foul mouths." -Online Book Club
"An original take on medical humor and satire in this light, funny read." -Sublime Book Review
"Jones is a witty word-slinger, in the stream of consciousness jokey tradition of David Foster Wallace, Larry David, and, yes, Hunter S. Thompson." -Hollywood Book Reviews
"Had me laughing out loud from the very first line." -Joe Barrett, award-winning author of Managed Care
"My dad wrote this book." -Guinevere Jones, age 6
I am a family man, family physician, baseball-lovin', non-fiction-readin', movie-watchin', health care policy advocatin', child of the Intermountain West. I'm working hard to decrease the stigma surrounding mental illness in our society and among doctors who suffer from depression and anxiety. Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook (@kbjones11), and on my website kylebradfordjones.com.
My Thoughts
I read this book in a few hours and it was very enjoyable. Described as "a medical satire of Unhealthy Proportions", this short story was one I needed to read for a chuckle.
The protagonist of the story by Kyle Bradford Jones is Dr. Camus, and he is a jerk, likes no one, belittles everyone. He isn't even a good doctor as he misdiagnoses most of his cases. His favorite diagnoses are pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoniosis which is his favorite Wikipedia diagnosis. He doesn't even like himself I don't think.
The CEO of the hospital, Rosencrantz can't replace him because it would be costly and time consuming. He has a Censor go around after Camus to try to calm Camus and his outbursts.
Dr. Camus has decided to send his patients to a different hospital is when Rosencrantz has a brilliant idea. A one-month suspension without pay and Dr. Camus has to undergo hypnotism to try to change his attitude and behavior.
After coming back from his suspension and hypnosis he is a changed man. Kind of freaks the staff as they do not know how to handle this changed person. There is another problem, the hypnotist, Amazing Ralph, dies and takes the word that will bring Dr. Camus out of his 'spell'.
I found that this story was very funny, laughed out loud a few times, especially the name of the hospital, The Peloton Catalyst Wellness Code Blue Memorial Hospital of her Motherly Excellence. The author took a few liberties in that every time the hospital was mentioned, the name was turned around into another name.
It is fun to read something just for the fun of it. I have to give this book 5 stars because it made me laugh, which most books I read don't do. Plus, the author is a physician, so I imagine he has come across people like Dr. Camus in one form or another.
If you want a good chuckle and a quick read, you can't go wrong with Hospital!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.
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