Right now, you can’t open a newspaper without reading about the debate over the broken healthcare system in our country. University of Washington Medical School instructor, Dr. Audrey Young has written a fascinating peek into our own city’s public health provider, Harborview Hospital. Dr. Young finished her residency at Harborview and decided to stay on for her first attending position at the sprawling hospital. She landed on the medical floors treating patients with dwindling illnesses such as diabetes, heart failure, and chronic lung disease. But, given the mission of Harborview (...to serve patients from all walks of life. In 2002, Harborview provided $47.4 million in charity care ... and in 2007 it was $124 million), many of those same patients also had extenuating issues of addiction and homelessness. Even as a former nurse, the book is eye opening. The case histories illustrate, not only the critical state of our health care system, but also the remarkable work being done by the doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff who have chosen to work at Harborview. You’ll get a clearer picture of Michael Copass, the neurologist who put the Harborview Emergency Department on the national map by creating the Medic One program. You’ll read about the “air traffic controller” who tries to find a bed for every patient who needs it. Remember the December wind storm of 2007? You’ll think of it in a whole new way after reading Young’s book and perhaps get a little worried about mass casualty events. House of Hope and Fear is also about how Harborview has managed to survive when so many “public” hospitals around the country have folded and, truthfully, every time you see someone texting while driving, you should be very glad the hospital is serving our community. ~Patti