Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare (2012)

An investigative documentary that uncovers the U.S. healthcare system's true design.

Directors:

Susan Froemke, Matthew Heineman

Stars:

Clive Alonzo, Don Berwick, Elizabeth Blackburn

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Clive Alonzo	...	Self
Don Berwick	...	Self
Elizabeth Blackburn	...	Self
Krystal Bracy	...	Self
Shanon Brownlee	...	Self
Dan Bullis	...	Self
Steve Burd	...	Self
Peter Carroll	...	Self
Leslie Cho	...	Self
Toby Cosgrove	...	Self
David Fridovich	...	Self
Joshua Friedbauer	...	Self
Betty Garner	...	Self
Wayne Jonas	...	Self
Katy Kasch	...	Self

Storyline

ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: what can be done to save our broken medical system? The film examines the powerful forces trying to maintain the status quo in a medical industry designed for quick fixes rather than prevention, for profit-driven care rather than patient-driven care. After decades of resistance, a movement to bring innovative high-touch, low-cost methods of prevention and healing into our high-tech, costly system is finally gaining ground. ESCAPE FIRE follows dramatic human stories as well as leaders fighting to transform healthcare at the highest levels of medicine, industry, government, and even the US military. The film is about a way out, about saving the health of a nation.

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Genres:

Documentary | News

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material

Did You Know?

Trivia

Text ESCAPE to 44144 to engage in the conversation.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jason Sudeikis/Kelly Rohrbach/Matthew Heineman (2016)

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Soundtracks

Horse and Carrot
Written by Moby
Performed by Moby

User Reviews

Escape fire shines a light on powerful dark matter of medicine.

As a person working in health care education, I think Escape Fire, the documentary film, shines a strong steady light on the powerful dark matter of medicine.

Personal stories of patients seeking care are interwoven with expert commentary from heads of government, insurance companies, doctors and journalists. While the call that US health care is broken seems old, the stories shown here are shocking and new. They uncover why it is broken and how it can heal. The stress points that are breaking seem to be about focusing on sick-care instead of health care.

A heart surgeon exposes what he names "perverse economic incentives" that reward doctors for doing procedures, instead of rewarding them when patients become healthier. A former head of a health insurance company visits a US remote areal medical service - where people come from miles around to line up for free care in sheds and tents - and he has a crisis of conscience. A doctor shows research evidence that reducing stress reverses heart disease, and then forms teams of physicians, psychologists, nutritionists and yoga instructors to help patients heal.

One patient in the ER for heart disease talks to the doctor about when he'll change to a heart health diet. For him, it will be when he knows what's wrong with him. Education about what causes leading chronic health problems is missing from our schools. And the movie Escape Fire points out that preventative care and nutrition education are also lacking in most doctors' educations too.

This new movie is not all gloom and doom, far from it. With a focus on healthy living, healthy foods, keeping active and reducing stress with yoga and meditation, the film makers give us a great big dose of hope. One patient portrait is of a veteran, Sgt Yates, who served in Afghanistan and returned with PTSD and back injuries, unable to walk. He is transformed and says, "I'm not changed, but I'm changing".

This movie made me want to change too, and take more responsibility for my own health. We needed health care reform, now we need a health care revolution, with each patient being part of the change.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA China Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,953, 7 October 2012

Gross USA:

$126,238

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$126,238

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aisle C Productions, Our Time Projects

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color