Tom Lawry • January 23, 2025

New Book -Health Care Nation

I am pleased to announce that I have a new book coming in April: Health Care Nation - The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think.


Whether a patient, health consumer, physician, nurse, health executive, or elected official, somewhere deep in our brains is this simple truth: the American health system isn’t working, and it will only get worse if we don’t do something about it.


Despite spending more money per capita on healthcare than any other country in the world, the U.S. struggles to match other nations in life expectancy, health outcomes and general well-being. Meanwhile, the system spends more on unnecessary, ineffective, and wasteful services than what we collectively invest in K-12 education in America. 


All the while, our health status is declining. For the first time, kids born today may not live as long as their older siblings. Health Care Nation shines a light on the deep interconnectedness between the health of people and the health of a nation. It’s about the opportunity and responsibility each of us has to reimagine and reengineer a system that focuses on keeping all citizens healthy and caring for them when they are not.


Health Care Nation takes readers on a journey to understand the fundamental issues driving the system in the wrong direction. It focuses on helping each reader find or sharpen their voice in what should change based on their views, values and experiences.


Health Care Nation awakens readers to the possibilities that exist today that are right in front of us if only we choose to see them. It creates an understanding of the forces at work in healthcare today that are driving us in the wrong direction, instilling readers with a sense of activism that mobilizes them to take action. 


The ultimate goal of this book is to help everyone find and use their voice to drive positive change. Health Care Nation is designed to help readers understand the role they can play and actions they can take to determine the health and economic well-being for generations to come.


My publisher is doing an early book launch at the HIMSS conference in Las Vegas March 3-6.  Would love to see you if attending.  Look for me at the HIMSS bookstore near the exhibit hall.  I'll be signing advance copies.  Health Care Nation is also available for preorder on Amazon.


For more information about the book go to www.healthcarenation.us .


T.

On the Air in NYC to Talk About My New Book

By Tom Lawry • June 10, 2025
This week, I hit the airwaves on Shake It Off—a talk radio show reaching listeners across the greater New York City area—to share the story behind my new book Health Care Nation. We didn’t just talk health care. We talked movement building . I believe it’s time for citizens and clinicians alike to raise their voices—not just in frustration, but in reimagining what American health care could be . If you're ready to challenge the status quo and be part of a smarter, more humane system, give this a listen .

Responsible AI - Free Download for Healthcare Leaders

By Tom Lawry • May 21, 2025
Everyone’s talking about Responsible AI. But when it comes to actually putting principles into practice, the follow-through is often inconsistent. That’s why I’ve adapted a leadership module I use in my advisory work and made it available as a free download. It’s designed to help clinical and operational leaders ask—and answer—three key questions that reveal how well their organization is developing, implementing, and managing AI in ways that truly serve all patients and consumers. If you're serious about making Responsible AI real, not just rhetorical, this tool is a great place to start. Go here to download this guide.

MedPage Today Op-Ed

By Tom Lawry • May 16, 2025
I have just published an op-ed piece in MedPage Today, which is an excerpt from a chapter in my book, Health Care Nation. In many ways, health care has become America’s largest escape room. We’ve locked our most talented health care experts and consumers in with a staggering $4.7 trillion of our own money. The problem is that we haven’t figured out how to escape the maze of convoluted policies, skewed financial incentives, and entrenched traditions that are steering amazing people and 17.3% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the wrong direction. Go here to learn more.

Las Vegas Talk Show Interview

By Tom Lawry • May 13, 2025
Maria Ngo hosts a talk show in Las Vegas called THE STRIP LIVE. She typically interviews celebrities like Tony Bennett, Kevin Costner, and Sir Richard Branson. Needless to say, I was surprised to have a text from Maria wanting to talk when I landed in Las Vegas to speak at HIMSS and a launch event for my new book, Health Care Nation. Go here to watch this fun interview . Maria brings an energy level to her work that is contagious. We covered everything from the new book, the future of AI, to mentoring advice.

South China Morning Post - Exploring How AI is Changing Healthcare

By Tom Lawry • April 9, 2025
The South China Morning Post is Hong Kong's largest daily newspaper. This article appeared in the April 9th edition where I discuss how AI is already reshaping healthcare and look ahead to envision how it will improve health on a global scale.

Interview by Health Populi About My New Book Health Care Nation

By Tom Lawry • April 3, 2025
I had the opportunity to sit down with Jane Sarasohn-Kahn to talk about my new book, Health Care Nation - The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think . From defining why the American Health System is going in the wrong direction, to discussing the power of a citizen-driven movement, this review gets at the heart of why I wrote this book. Go here f or our discussion. Go here to bookmark this highly-rated blog reporting on transformation issues and opportunities in health and medicine. T.

Health Care Nation Launches - Amazon Names as #1 New Release

By Tom Lawry • March 31, 2025
Friday, March 28th was the official launch date for Health Care Nation-The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think . It is now available through all major booksellers. Amazon named it the #1 (Audible Version) and #2 (Paperback Version) New Release in the Health Care Management Category and the #1 New Release in Health Policy. If you are curious, go here to listen to the Preface and Chapter 1. Special thanks to those who pre-ordered or purchased the book early. T.

Politics Done Right Podcast - Talking about my new book - Health Care Nation

By Tom Lawry • March 24, 2025
Egberto Willies is a podcast host and commentator who always tries to tease out the "real story" happening behind the scenes of news today. I had the opportunity to sit with Egberto and talk about why America spends more on health care than any other country, and yet, we as citizens are the least healthy in the developed world and most likely to die early. I covered some of the key issues found in my new book, Health Care Nation. Go here to listen to our wide-ranging conversation on health care and our ability to reimagine a better use of our talented health professionals and resources.

Dinner with the Real Jerry Macguire

By Tom Lawry • March 15, 2025
Remember the movie, Jerry Maguire? (Show me the money!). I had dinner last week with Leigh Steinberg…the real Jerry Maguire who was personified in the movie by Tom Cruise. Leigh is a legend in the sports world. Leigh has been one of the greatest advocates in calling attention to the devastating effects of concussions and brain injuries in sports. From the NFL to pee wee sports, Leigh is the guy who drove visibility and protections for athletes everywhere. I had the privilege of being on stage at HIMSS25 with Leigh to talk about his great work and what's ahead for the treatment and prevention of concussions and brain injuries, neuroplasticity, and the future of brain health. T.

Health Care Nation Debuts at Las Vegas Launch Event

By Tom Lawry • March 15, 2025
Special thanks to my publisher, Taylor and Francis, for organizing a "soft launch" event in Las Vegas last week for my new book Health Care Nation - The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think. While the official launch happens on March 28th with all major booksellers, we had advance copies available for sale. It was great fun to do my first book signings. Already getting good feedback from early readers. A big thank you to early buyers and readers. For more information on the new book, go to www.healthcarenation.us
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