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“Not Letting Patients Get Any Sleep”: 30 Things That Should Not Be Normal In Healthcare, According To Twitter Users
When a person goes to a medical institution, they expect to be treated equally as others, they expect to be heard and provided a solution. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works all the time and patients get disappointed with their healthcare providers.
The reasons can vary: it could be that the healthcare worker has a personal problem with a patient, maybe they worked 24 hours in a row and just want to be finished with their shift, or they don’t devote themselves to their job as much anymore because they’re burnt out.
There are obviously a lot of issues in the medical field that both patients and healthcare professionals have to deal with. And Twitter user @DrBryanLeyva wanted to know what people feel is the problem that is the worst in their eyes. Bryan asked, “What should we denormalize in healthcare?” and people had so much to say.
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Bryan Leyva is a Doctor of Medicine who went to Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and now he is a public health researcher at the University of Minnesota. Bryan focuses his research on “the behavioral and social determinants of health; b) racial and socioeconomic health disparities; c) models, measures, and strategies to improve quality and equity in health care.”
"Psychosomatic" isn't an insult. It means "(of a physical illness or other condition) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress." Anxiety and depression can cause physical symptoms to worsen, and it's necessary to point that out clinically in order to properly treat a patient.
He wanted to hear the vox populi and asked “What should we denormalize in healthcare?” which essentially means, what are the biggest problems in the healthcare system that bother people the most.
Both people who were patients and medical professionals joined the conversation and a lot of issues surfaced. Some pointed out that racial and sexual discrimination or applying stereotypes still are existing problems that prevent doctors from giving quality service.
This is no joke. When I was on chemo, they used start it of an evening, and well 4 or 5 bags of fluid has to go somewhere, so I was up all night peeing. You can therefore imagine my delight when someone comes round offering you breakfast at 7.30 in the morning! I won't complain too much though, as I owe my life to them and the care they gave me.
Exactly!!! When a 15 year old is telling you while crying that her quality of life is so bad that she prefers to get rid of everything inside her or to die you don't f*****g tell her that it's normal and you better get used to it cause it's going to be like that for the next 30-40 years!!! (Real dialogue with my first ob!)
I was at university and broke my pinky finger during the night. I went to Student health first thing in the morning when they opened. They put me in an exam room to wait for next available. I sat in the room for four hours. I thought things were getting very quite. I walked down hallway and everyone had gone to lunch except one attendant at the front desk. He asked me what I was doing! Not a happy day.
Others were pointing to the absurd amounts of money they have to pay in order to get the help they need. There were a quite significant number of people who thought that doctors will not believe how much pain patients, especially women, are in.
Miscommunication was also brought up as doctors will not try to explain conditions and illnesses to their patients in a language they would understand.
This is sadly one of the drawbacks of the NHS. The healthcare might be free, but it often involves a fair bit of waiting around, meaning more time off work, and if you have driven the to the hospital it can also mean increased parking charges if they are running late. I think we need to start an awareness campaign with fake invoices "if this had been America, this is what you would'be been charged". People might appreciate them more.
Medical professionals themselves were mentioning burnout and long shifts as well as disrespect among colleagues. So both sides see problems that need to be fixed and every issue that has been mentioned has to be dealt with individually as there is no one solution that would fit all challenges, so maybe that is why it is so difficult to change the situation.
My mum was discharged from hospital with meds and wound care supplies. A specialist comes every other day to take care of her wound.
But this is the exact opposite of what we are discussing. (Where are you that you have this totally opposite treatment? )
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A few weeks ago I broke my leg. Left the ER with crutches, a vacuum cast (which I had been instructed to use) and enough prescription drugs, thrombosis syringes (which I also had been instructed to use) and dressing materials to last for at least a week. The best part: It did not cost me anything. That happens when you have a sensible healthcare system instead of the american way.
Luckily I'm a clumsy person and always have gauze, tape, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, neosporin...because the little they give you after surgery, if they do, doesn't last long.
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Someone very close to me, who has addiction issues. Clean for a long while, had a backop and discharged from hospital. No wound advice but 2 months supply of opioids and 6 month script. Luckily, he asked me to find out what they were. They were promptly hidden away (on his request) and only administed when necessary and according to correct dosage. And I went to the pharmacy, explained op wound and they assisted me with advice on how to care for it and which products to use.
A couple years ago i needed a podiatrist and found a same day appointment close to my house with the doctor for our city’s nba team, I was psyched up thinking it would be top notch. After my consultation I asked the front desk for a copy of my diagnosis and treatment. They said his handwriting is difficult to read. Ok. They just scanned his (short) notes and didn’t translate or elaborate. He just said to buy x brand shoes and use inserts. I ended up needing further care and it took TWO other doctors to actually give me the full picture and treatment options. When I tried going back to the podiatrist, they refused as he only treats problems “below the ankle” but my EXTREMELY flat arches were causing problems in my calves, knees, hips/back. Still can’t believe he basically said “not my problem” when it’s caused by my feet
Oh no? It wasn't the Crystal Clinic in Cleveland was it? A week before my last and successful surgery a lady saw me on my knee scooter at the zoo. She tried to get me to cancel with guy because her friends sons Dr went to him and he works on famous athletes. So glad I stuck with my 3rd guy. A good foot Dr./ Surgeon is hard to find! I had 1 terrible one- no X-rays but offered me pain pills twice to make sure😳, one was better and finally the third was amazing and I won't likely have to see him again since he fixed everything the 2nd guy missed. All in less than 3 years.
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Communication is supposed to be at least 1/2 of patient care -- but too many medical professionals simply blow that off or give it only the barest attention.
had this happen wen i was 17 no one told me wat to do about my knee injury all they said was i was too young for surgury to fix it and to get physical therapy. no specifics or anything. i have wat they call runner's knee and the hospital didnt tell me that....the first time i went. the first time i went they also didnt tell me no more competetive running so in college (which i got a track and feild full scholarship for) i did track. wat happens? i damage my knee further and may i add physical therapy didnt help it made it worse. but anyways went to a hospital near my college and they were dumbfounded by wat i told them about the first hospital visit wen the injury first happened. they told me specific physical therapy had me do it at the hospital, no more track, told me excercises and stretches to do on my own and how to deal with pain. they also told me i was too young for surgery but watever. so here i m now 31 not even able to jog bc of my knee still to young for surgery and have major knee pain constantly on rainy or cloudy days, stairs r my enemy and slowly waiting for the cartildge in my knee to wear away enough for me to get it fixed. not all hospitals like the first one i went to but i sure m grateful for the 2nd visit id b busting my knee left and right if every hospital was like the 1st one. im pissed at the first hospital bc running was like my pride and joy even just running around my neighborhood for the hell of it brought me happiness but bc of the 2nd knee bust i cant even jog. if they had told me no more competetive running the first time around id still b doing casual running and jogging. my husband is very supportive and wants me to at least jog again. he says he sees the sadness in my eyes wen my track and feild days r brought up in conversation or wen i tell the dog i cant chase after her like he can. hes be looking up ways to get me to jogging point. im no long distance runner always been short distance but if i was able to jog id go for miles. my doctor advises against it but said she will support any ill need. i have her looking into custom fitted knee braces currently cuz thats the first step but bc my right knee is messed up too from years of taking weight off my bad left one ill need 2. sad that in order to get better from an injury that probably started before 17, ive have to basically fix it on my own.
Sometimes you have to ask if the person has running water. Some people don't.
I was discharged once because I was pissed the nurse picked up my used gauze (used to stop bleeding from IV in my inside elbow) from the nasty floor and put it back on me! No one there even cared.
Happened to me in the UK. Had a fishing hook in my foot. They removed it and sent me off with no bandage or even a band aid (barefoot). NHS. 🤷
Ditto with prescriptions. Too many overdoses due to improper communication and instructions.
New medications that you need to take at home also need to be clear and grouped into AM & PM, or what ever time schedule they need to be taken
Medical professionals are a crucial part of our society as they contain the knowledge of how to heal and survive when you are literally in the process of stepping into a coffin. But if they can't provide the care people need, it is really concerning and admitting that there are problems is already progress towards finding a solution.
So what would you answer to Bryan’s question? Let us know in the comments and also show us what tweets you agree with the most by upvoting them!
When you can hear the nursing staff making jokes about you from outside your room in the emergency department. Guys, I am fat, not stupid and deaf.
Ding ding Ding! Anxiety disorder, female, told my crippling pain must be stomach bug, twice turned away from hospital. Third time I went back i was really bad, and it caused a huge amount of surgeries that may have been avoided. I mean jeez if I'm saying it's only one notch below childbirth, pls listen. Anxious doesn't always mean wrong.
As a person with several conditions that CAUSE weight gain as a side effect, I'm still classified as obese even as I know that if I wasn't watching every carb (dibeties 2) every cup of water or how much iron I eat(PCOS)(anemia) , or keep up with daily walks (arthritis), I could easily be 300lbs. So being 40lb overweight is NOT the issue.
Well, I believe it depends on what kind of doctor you are there to see and what your medical issue is. I was told at the Ophthalmologist to put my clothes back on. The mammogram lady said I could've kept my pants on. It's very confusing.
Over specialization is an issue for us in Korea. It seems like each specialist only knows about their specialty and nothing about general health or anything related to their field. My husband has bad allergies and weird sinus structure. Not one sinus doctor has offered allergy meds, they just want to do surgery. Finally saw an allergist, still no meds but wants to do expensive immunotherapy to "cure" his moderate allergies for the low cost of $800/year AND getting rid of our pets. Seems like a daily pill would be a lot cheaper...
Gina seems misinformed. Kidneys? Nephrology. Brain issues? Neurology. Cancer? Oncology, etc. There's not exactly a Geriatric One-Stop-Shopping Center for specialists. It would be great if there was, though.
This attitude probably has its roots in some toxic masculinity initiation thing. Rarely do I hear women bragging about their burnout schedule, but it's bragging rights for some men. Very dangerous bragging rights.
My hospital calls it "failure to thrive". I like that better. Means, might be surviving, but quality of life could be improved if we can find the source of what's slowing you down/troubling you. And maybe we can help you be more you with some supports.
Note: this post originally had 32 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Shaming doctors for making medical mistakes. I know it sounds logical and deserved in theory, but what it really means is that healthcare providers hide their mistakes and healthcare provider employers find excuses and reasons to blame the patient. We can’t have good healthcare if we don’t allow providers to admit when they’ve made a mistake and not risk their entire career. Doctors are human. Humans make mistakes.
This does depend on the mistake though. If a doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis because a patient's symptoms were vague that's just a normal, human mistake, but if a doctor amputates the wrong leg that's something they should be shamed for.
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(US) think many of these problems could be changed by moving from a "for-profit" healthcare system to a universal healthcare one. The profit side pushes doctors to maximize the number of patients they see. Insurance companies demand as little testing as possible. What I have been seeing lately is doctors will only see you for 1 problem at a time. That wastes time, is expensive, and makes for poorer healthcare overall.
Thank you for having a holistic view of this issue. I completely agree. It’s so easy to blame the insurance industry but the truth is that everyone is out to make money on your health in the US. Hospitals are owned by large companies that are publicly traded on the stock market and pay dividends to shareholders. Physicians who do great work are paid a whole lot more in this country than they are other countries. Hence why we have a lot of foreign doctors that come over here to start their careers versus their home countries. And yes insurance is certainly not getting off scot free either. That doesn’t even touch pharmacy and medical supply cost issues. It’s a broken system and there’s not just one responsible party.
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Let's add: having people in outpatient with complex illnesses bear the full burden of managing their care. I don't think doctors realize that when you've got a patient with multisystemic issues, that patient -- already sicker than most -- is slammed with a lot of very stressful work. Organize your many medications, spend hours on the phone with medical receptionists, medical records departments, the insurance company, the pharmacy. Get your sick body to and from all your appointments on time. It's a second job for someone probably struggling to keep their actual paid job, or who is on disability because they CAN'T perform a job. And it's a recipe for disaster. You're asking someone who is ILL to navigate systems they're not familiar with, oversee communication between systems that are not designed to communicate with each other... of COURSE medications will be forgotten. Of COURSE important follow-up won't happen. Chronically ill patients, and patients with complex multisystemic issues, need wraparound support even after they leave the hospital, and there should be a component of healthcare that addresses this gap.
For my husband it is like a second job. Multiple doctor visits in a week, hours and hours in the waiting room, examinations,... it takes a lot of time and it causes so much stress
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Denormalise Caesarians. They are surgical procedures: women need different recovery expectations, different management for future pregnancies and psychological support where birth of their baby has not gone according to plan. They need to not be whipped into theatre at the drop of a hat.
The way that the elderly are treated, and the entire aging process is viewed as a disease. We stow our older relatives away from sight in institutions where they are treated as prisoners to languish in boredom and loneliness. As if aging is unusual and won't happen to us.
It's not always so clear cut. Let's say my mother cannot live by herself anymore. Her mind is still sharp but her body just can't keep up because of the normal aging process. She needs someone with her because she can no longer walk safely by herself. I work all day and cannot be with her to help her no matter how much I want to. I can't quit my job or take time off because I wouldn't be able to pay my bills if I did that. I can't find a new job that gives any better benefits. I can't afford to hire someone to stay with my mother for the time I am at work...but I can just barely afford to put her in an old age home. So that's what I do. Now she isn't alone and if something happens there's someone there to help. Is it ideal? No. Is it better than leaving her alone at home all day where she might fall, break a hip and be left lying alone on the floor until I get home in 6 hours? Yes. And yet people will still judge me for "stowing her away" rather than looking after her myself.
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Doctors need to 1) Listen to the nurses. They see everything and they know at least as much as the doctors, sometimes more. 2) Listen to the patients. The vast majority are giving an honest and accurate account of their experiences. Let them guide assessment. 3) Listen to the patient's family or advocate. They are not there for fun. My daughter came within hours of losing her life because none of the above happened. I had to fight and argue and be incredibly forceful and aggressive with several doctors in order to save her life, which they were happy to admit after the fact. But that doesn't compensate for the fact that if I hadn't, she would be dead.
I've been in a fight to get a hysterectomy. Despite family history or issues that I am currently going through, and that I've chosen not to have children, they refuse to reclassify the surgery as needed. No it's Elective. Due to that insurance won't pay for it. How do they want to 'fix' me? IUD. I'm already on iron pills daily because I'm losing so much blood every month its made me anemic. They're not even sure if it will fix this, I have a 60% chance of success. They refuse to do the surgery until my uterus puts me in the hospital. This has been the same experience with the other main medical provider in my city. They may have gotten rid of the law where a man, boyfriend or husband, has to give me permission to get it removed, but they've taken every step they can to block me from having the surgery.
I hope this got sorted for you. I had a similar experience. Though I don't think there was any argument of necessity, the "but what about kids," argument was such a roadblock. Best wishes to you.
Load More Replies... And, if you ask to have students in the room(which is fine with me normally, it's a teaching hospital), then pls: A) Warn them if you are about to give a life altering diagnosis and you're bringing in students, and B) don't flippantly tell them they had someone in recently like you, but they're dead now, then show me the door. That's not the way to teach med students how to deliver news 🤷♀️
In the US... I was having a necessary surgery and didnt have healthcare. My cost without insurance was $6900 and had to be paid upfront. I was lucky enough to get health care before the procedure. They charged my insurance $49000 because I had insurance. REALLY.!!! Why could it be done cheaper without insurance? It's the exact same surgery!!!! And that is why the US has such extreme cost in health care.
Let the charge nurse have the authority to discharge patients. Before you @ me, I'm not saying let them make the decision but I can't tell you how many times my mom has been in the hospital and the doc comes first thing in the morning for rounds, says "Oh yeah you can go home today" and then poof, he disappears (gets called to emergency surgery, etc) and there you sit for another eight hours waiting for him to come back just because he has to sign the paper. Once he (or she) has said you can go the charge nurse should be able to complete the paperwork.
This happened when my ex was in the hospital. Didn't want to pay for another day just because the dr. never came back so I wandered around the hospital till I found him and made him come sign the discharge papers so we could leave.
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Brazilian here and as a former nurse I can say that many of these issues happen here too. I was considered to be a very boring and stupid nurse because I cared about patients like I wanted to be cared if I was in their place. I heard many inappropriated comments due my behavior mainly during the night shifts when I asked my co-workers to avoid making noise and allow the patients to get some sleep. I got into much unnecessary arguments due this "silly" request. Anyway.... Today I'm a proud teacher and I have no intentions to work as a nurse anymore. I also feel sorry for USA's citizens about their healthcare system not being for free. This is outrageous. I have some Americans friends and this is the number 1 complaint when I talk to them about healthcare.
This isn't the 1980s. Trans people have more rights now days than any other group of people.
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Ugh almost all of this. I don't know why society decided to glorify and sanctify doctors in the 21st century. They are not all created equal and they do have their own prejudices. For many it's just a career and a paycheck.
Jerry Mathers The 1 problem at a time will not be solved by a universal heath care system. Canada has universal health care and they still insist on 1 problem per visit because they can only charge the patient per visit OHIP pays per visit. I inquired about this to see if it was legal I was told until OHIP can get around this situation is is legal but not ethical so it it legality vs ethics which does your doctor prefer. In Canada the doctors can also slap you with a time limit. (One doctor is 3-4 min.) then she is buzzed! Many docs. overbook also. I think the trouble with doctors is that most of them are healthy- they have not had surgery, a chronic disease or chronic pain. I know that is not their fault but they should treat people like they have had theses problems. In Canada I don't know about other places but the docs. have notices in the treatment rooms stating the way patients must treat the Doctors - nothing about the way they must treat us! I had a Dr. refuse to wear
I have scoliosis and sometimes if they don’t have rooms available they have me change into a gown and then wait for my X-ray in the waiting room with other people who are fully clothed because they’re just getting their arm X-rayed or something (I also really hate the gowns)
I've a list... Drs not admitting when they don't know something. I have a couple of very rare conditions for which I take rare medicines.. and I hate it when drs pretend to know when clearly they don't. I much prefer it when they say they don't know, or ask me to explain Drawing curtains around the bed does not stop everyone outside the curtain being able to hear what is being said inside. I don't want other patients in the bay to know my medical condition or history Consultants acting like God and blaming their junior drs or nursing staff for mistakes or things not getting done
Yep. My best wishes to you both. I know this because I've been living it for 3+ years, so I can empathize with what you're going through, and I'm so sorry
I am going to play devils advocate here. People need to stop expecting doctors to be perfect and never make mistakes. People need to "let go" when a friend or relative is circling the drain. Every hour of ICU you waste for a patient circling the drain, is an hour not available to someone with a fighting chance, awaiting triage. Demanding heroic efforts for someone whose quality of life will suck, is selfish and wasteful. Patients also need to shoulder the responsibility of poor life choices they made.
a mask during COVID when he did it gaped all over and under his nose I told him off using the verbs of the day! I got a note from him saying I abused him! (he did get COVID but survived) and I abused him - go figure!
One of the reasons health insurance is so overpriced is due to the prices doctors charge for their services. When I had good insurance I was sent to a specialist my doctor recommended for the pain I was having in my back. That specialist ran test after test ( including a chest xray). In the end, he gave me a vague diagnosis and put me on a large amount of pain killers..indefinatley. I saw him every other month like clockwork for a year. Then I lost my health insurance. I got the bill for the final appointment I had with him. He had been charging my insurance 560.00 per visit. I would see him 5-10 min each visit. I was shocked. I was even more shocked when I was able to receive medicaid and it took 1 steroid shot to my spine to cure me of the back pain. I've been pain and pill free for 9 years. And that procedure cost less than 200$. No one is worth 5600.00$ per hour. But some doctors seem to think they are.
Shaming doctors for making medical mistakes. I know it sounds logical and deserved in theory, but what it really means is that healthcare providers hide their mistakes and healthcare provider employers find excuses and reasons to blame the patient. We can’t have good healthcare if we don’t allow providers to admit when they’ve made a mistake and not risk their entire career. Doctors are human. Humans make mistakes.
This does depend on the mistake though. If a doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis because a patient's symptoms were vague that's just a normal, human mistake, but if a doctor amputates the wrong leg that's something they should be shamed for.
Load More Replies... (US) think many of these problems could be changed by moving from a "for-profit" healthcare system to a universal healthcare one. The profit side pushes doctors to maximize the number of patients they see. Insurance companies demand as little testing as possible. What I have been seeing lately is doctors will only see you for 1 problem at a time. That wastes time, is expensive, and makes for poorer healthcare overall.
Thank you for having a holistic view of this issue. I completely agree. It’s so easy to blame the insurance industry but the truth is that everyone is out to make money on your health in the US. Hospitals are owned by large companies that are publicly traded on the stock market and pay dividends to shareholders. Physicians who do great work are paid a whole lot more in this country than they are other countries. Hence why we have a lot of foreign doctors that come over here to start their careers versus their home countries. And yes insurance is certainly not getting off scot free either. That doesn’t even touch pharmacy and medical supply cost issues. It’s a broken system and there’s not just one responsible party.
Load More Replies... Let's add: having people in outpatient with complex illnesses bear the full burden of managing their care. I don't think doctors realize that when you've got a patient with multisystemic issues, that patient -- already sicker than most -- is slammed with a lot of very stressful work. Organize your many medications, spend hours on the phone with medical receptionists, medical records departments, the insurance company, the pharmacy. Get your sick body to and from all your appointments on time. It's a second job for someone probably struggling to keep their actual paid job, or who is on disability because they CAN'T perform a job. And it's a recipe for disaster. You're asking someone who is ILL to navigate systems they're not familiar with, oversee communication between systems that are not designed to communicate with each other... of COURSE medications will be forgotten. Of COURSE important follow-up won't happen. Chronically ill patients, and patients with complex multisystemic issues, need wraparound support even after they leave the hospital, and there should be a component of healthcare that addresses this gap.
For my husband it is like a second job. Multiple doctor visits in a week, hours and hours in the waiting room, examinations,... it takes a lot of time and it causes so much stress
Load More Replies... Denormalise Caesarians. They are surgical procedures: women need different recovery expectations, different management for future pregnancies and psychological support where birth of their baby has not gone according to plan. They need to not be whipped into theatre at the drop of a hat.
The way that the elderly are treated, and the entire aging process is viewed as a disease. We stow our older relatives away from sight in institutions where they are treated as prisoners to languish in boredom and loneliness. As if aging is unusual and won't happen to us.
It's not always so clear cut. Let's say my mother cannot live by herself anymore. Her mind is still sharp but her body just can't keep up because of the normal aging process. She needs someone with her because she can no longer walk safely by herself. I work all day and cannot be with her to help her no matter how much I want to. I can't quit my job or take time off because I wouldn't be able to pay my bills if I did that. I can't find a new job that gives any better benefits. I can't afford to hire someone to stay with my mother for the time I am at work...but I can just barely afford to put her in an old age home. So that's what I do. Now she isn't alone and if something happens there's someone there to help. Is it ideal? No. Is it better than leaving her alone at home all day where she might fall, break a hip and be left lying alone on the floor until I get home in 6 hours? Yes. And yet people will still judge me for "stowing her away" rather than looking after her myself.
Load More Replies... Doctors need to 1) Listen to the nurses. They see everything and they know at least as much as the doctors, sometimes more. 2) Listen to the patients. The vast majority are giving an honest and accurate account of their experiences. Let them guide assessment. 3) Listen to the patient's family or advocate. They are not there for fun. My daughter came within hours of losing her life because none of the above happened. I had to fight and argue and be incredibly forceful and aggressive with several doctors in order to save her life, which they were happy to admit after the fact. But that doesn't compensate for the fact that if I hadn't, she would be dead.
I've been in a fight to get a hysterectomy. Despite family history or issues that I am currently going through, and that I've chosen not to have children, they refuse to reclassify the surgery as needed. No it's Elective. Due to that insurance won't pay for it. How do they want to 'fix' me? IUD. I'm already on iron pills daily because I'm losing so much blood every month its made me anemic. They're not even sure if it will fix this, I have a 60% chance of success. They refuse to do the surgery until my uterus puts me in the hospital. This has been the same experience with the other main medical provider in my city. They may have gotten rid of the law where a man, boyfriend or husband, has to give me permission to get it removed, but they've taken every step they can to block me from having the surgery.
I hope this got sorted for you. I had a similar experience. Though I don't think there was any argument of necessity, the "but what about kids," argument was such a roadblock. Best wishes to you.
Load More Replies... And, if you ask to have students in the room(which is fine with me normally, it's a teaching hospital), then pls: A) Warn them if you are about to give a life altering diagnosis and you're bringing in students, and B) don't flippantly tell them they had someone in recently like you, but they're dead now, then show me the door. That's not the way to teach med students how to deliver news 🤷♀️
In the US... I was having a necessary surgery and didnt have healthcare. My cost without insurance was $6900 and had to be paid upfront. I was lucky enough to get health care before the procedure. They charged my insurance $49000 because I had insurance. REALLY.!!! Why could it be done cheaper without insurance? It's the exact same surgery!!!! And that is why the US has such extreme cost in health care.
Let the charge nurse have the authority to discharge patients. Before you @ me, I'm not saying let them make the decision but I can't tell you how many times my mom has been in the hospital and the doc comes first thing in the morning for rounds, says "Oh yeah you can go home today" and then poof, he disappears (gets called to emergency surgery, etc) and there you sit for another eight hours waiting for him to come back just because he has to sign the paper. Once he (or she) has said you can go the charge nurse should be able to complete the paperwork.
This happened when my ex was in the hospital. Didn't want to pay for another day just because the dr. never came back so I wandered around the hospital till I found him and made him come sign the discharge papers so we could leave.
Load More Replies... Brazilian here and as a former nurse I can say that many of these issues happen here too. I was considered to be a very boring and stupid nurse because I cared about patients like I wanted to be cared if I was in their place. I heard many inappropriated comments due my behavior mainly during the night shifts when I asked my co-workers to avoid making noise and allow the patients to get some sleep. I got into much unnecessary arguments due this "silly" request. Anyway.... Today I'm a proud teacher and I have no intentions to work as a nurse anymore. I also feel sorry for USA's citizens about their healthcare system not being for free. This is outrageous. I have some Americans friends and this is the number 1 complaint when I talk to them about healthcare.
This isn't the 1980s. Trans people have more rights now days than any other group of people.
Load More Replies... Ugh almost all of this. I don't know why society decided to glorify and sanctify doctors in the 21st century. They are not all created equal and they do have their own prejudices. For many it's just a career and a paycheck.
Jerry Mathers The 1 problem at a time will not be solved by a universal heath care system. Canada has universal health care and they still insist on 1 problem per visit because they can only charge the patient per visit OHIP pays per visit. I inquired about this to see if it was legal I was told until OHIP can get around this situation is is legal but not ethical so it it legality vs ethics which does your doctor prefer. In Canada the doctors can also slap you with a time limit. (One doctor is 3-4 min.) then she is buzzed! Many docs. overbook also. I think the trouble with doctors is that most of them are healthy- they have not had surgery, a chronic disease or chronic pain. I know that is not their fault but they should treat people like they have had theses problems. In Canada I don't know about other places but the docs. have notices in the treatment rooms stating the way patients must treat the Doctors - nothing about the way they must treat us! I had a Dr. refuse to wear
I have scoliosis and sometimes if they don’t have rooms available they have me change into a gown and then wait for my X-ray in the waiting room with other people who are fully clothed because they’re just getting their arm X-rayed or something (I also really hate the gowns)
I've a list... Drs not admitting when they don't know something. I have a couple of very rare conditions for which I take rare medicines.. and I hate it when drs pretend to know when clearly they don't. I much prefer it when they say they don't know, or ask me to explain Drawing curtains around the bed does not stop everyone outside the curtain being able to hear what is being said inside. I don't want other patients in the bay to know my medical condition or history Consultants acting like God and blaming their junior drs or nursing staff for mistakes or things not getting done
Yep. My best wishes to you both. I know this because I've been living it for 3+ years, so I can empathize with what you're going through, and I'm so sorry
I am going to play devils advocate here. People need to stop expecting doctors to be perfect and never make mistakes. People need to "let go" when a friend or relative is circling the drain. Every hour of ICU you waste for a patient circling the drain, is an hour not available to someone with a fighting chance, awaiting triage. Demanding heroic efforts for someone whose quality of life will suck, is selfish and wasteful. Patients also need to shoulder the responsibility of poor life choices they made.
a mask during COVID when he did it gaped all over and under his nose I told him off using the verbs of the day! I got a note from him saying I abused him! (he did get COVID but survived) and I abused him - go figure!
One of the reasons health insurance is so overpriced is due to the prices doctors charge for their services. When I had good insurance I was sent to a specialist my doctor recommended for the pain I was having in my back. That specialist ran test after test ( including a chest xray). In the end, he gave me a vague diagnosis and put me on a large amount of pain killers..indefinatley. I saw him every other month like clockwork for a year. Then I lost my health insurance. I got the bill for the final appointment I had with him. He had been charging my insurance 560.00 per visit. I would see him 5-10 min each visit. I was shocked. I was even more shocked when I was able to receive medicaid and it took 1 steroid shot to my spine to cure me of the back pain. I've been pain and pill free for 9 years. And that procedure cost less than 200$. No one is worth 5600.00$ per hour. But some doctors seem to think they are.
