Consider How All Patients Deserve To Be Treated
I am writing this letter to serve as a reminder to medical staff that patient are real people! As you begin your next shift, I hope you will remember the words you are about to read. I’ve spent countless days among you watching how mechanical medical staff has become today. I’ve watched sick and hurting people unsure of where to go, what to do, who to ask, being treated rudely.
Maybe they’ve never needed your services before. Patients have simply become a diagnosis, a chart, an inconvenience, or a charity case because they have no insurance.
I’ve watched sick people sit in your waiting room for hours only to be shuffled through a whirlwind of paperwork, tests, burned-out nurses, doctors in a hurry, and budget-scarce facilities robbed of any dignity or pride they may have left.
I am shocked at how impersonal staff have become, huffing and puffing if someone asks you a question, how you carelessly discuss other patients in front of others or your personal life, or talk about you can’t wait to go on break to get away from the misery of these people.
It breaks my heart to see that people have been reduced to an insurance card, a diagnosis, or a chart to take up your time. That’s only what you see, but let me assure you behind those charts are people, real people with feelings, a life, and fears just like you.
I would urge you not to discount what I say. You have the power to touch the person behind that chart you clutch in your hand with your words or your actions. Tomorrow it just may be your loved one who becomes a chart or a number to be crossed off at the end of the day. So tell me, how will you greet your next patient?
Kelly Crabill
Bristol, Tenn.
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Clearly profit care comes ahead of patient care in East Tennessee and this link shows http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 what is really deemed, defended and supported as “the acceptable standards of health care” Buyer beware of false and misleading health care systems advertising. It’s shameful and disgusting.
I will treat you like you’re “real people” if you’ll do the same for me…I check you in, take your vital signs, ask what your problem is today and you tell me your life story, what you think is wrong, and the RX needed to fix it. I’m only the nurse who works 12 hr shifts + overtime on my feet most of the time…and my back hurts, my head hurts, I have a cold/flu/stomach virus too…and I have a boss, your doctor, who is pushing me to fill rooms so he can see as many pts as possible before getting that 2nd ER call (the 1st made him late to the office) and having to leave the rest of his pts without being seen. I think we are all a bit frustrated with the current system, but don’t accuse nurses of not caring about what they do or who they care for…we sure as heck don’t do it for the money or benefits!
I think you all need to walk a mile in the nurses and doctors shoes before you start making slanderous comments.
Notice they never mention the CONGAME that Hospitals and other Medical Service Providers use to get Taxpayer money from the State and Federal Government.
They write off any bill not paid in full to a collection agency they own.
Then go to the state or federal government and say we lost this much taking care of poor people. Give us block grants or other progam help. The State kicks in money and the Federal Government kicks in.
Then on the back side they are collecting from the patients, placing leins on homes, wage grarnishments and law suits.
Getting paid twice much of the time.
oldman…If we ever meet remind me to give you a $50 bill so you can give me some change-LOL
bj38: We had the same thing happen…my spouse had an infected tooth…on a weekend with lots of swelling and worry about infection spread into the sinus/brain etc. Bristol ER Dr. DID NOT EVEN TOUCH HIM! Used a tongue depressor to open his mouth wider. The Dr. did not give him an antibiotic (which is all he wanted until he could see dentist). All he got was a referral. I called to ask WHY as I did not go with him and was told that he would have to come back through the ER registration and talk with the Dr. The bill arrived promptly tho…over $400 and NO lab work either…...
“Wanna talk about treatment i have one for ya. I went to the doctor a week or so ago over a rather minor problem but none the less one that needed treated. He only listened and looked and that was it. No diagnosis, no fix, no nothing. And i got a bill for 530.00. “
Thanx for sharing that, bj38. There lies the exact problem.
The Public Option is coming and you will soon have the power to force those costs down.
Hang in there.
Wanna talk about treatment i have one for ya. I went to the doctor a week or so ago over a rather minor problem but none the less one that needed treated. He only listened and looked and that was it. No diagnosis, no fix, no nothing. And i got a bill for 530.00. I know doctors have to pay alot for med school and equipment and all the other things but to give me a bill that high and do nothing for me is well kinda illegal i think. If he would have at the very least did something i could see the charge in a way but to do nothing and i get a bill that high is on the borderline of insane. You can beat unless im having a heart attack or stroke i will never again go to a doctor. I get a physical every year from having my life insurance raised and its free and i get a 4 page diagnosis of it. I have never gotten that from any doctor. ITs time to put these quacks out of business or demand better treatement. I guess they have to hurry up so they can go play golf or have an affair with the secretary.
Well said. If Nurse Practioners were allowes to see patients and treat them in a Triage Position the amount of things they could do when the Electronic Records go on line will be amazing.
The Records will show the best care for the over 50,000,000,000 cases of pateints with the same ailments and how to make sure they get the best treatments. No run around testing just to make a profit off the Government. Doctors not bothered until he actaully needs to see the Patient and they can take care of the Patients who need them most.
The whole system would be geared to getting you healthy and keeping you healthy.
What if you could enter you ailments on the computer from home and see the nurse over a camera or have a nurse come to your home.
All of this is possbile. Many do not see the amount of savings possible. Right now 1/3 of health care dollars go for HMO profits + 1/3 is recorded as overtesting cost = 2/3 of all health care cost do not actually provide treatment.
Cutting thru the OVERHEAD is what good businesses do. Our Govenment is finally trying to force businesses to be competitive.
Ms. Crabill
I highly agree with you on this subject but I wish to add another point:
“Medical Professionals” please don’t judge people. Just because someone comes into your office/ER twice in one week does not make them a hypochondriac (or looking for pain meds) Maybe they ARE ill and you have not yet discovered the real diagnosis or maybe they have TWO separate problems. Also, don’t “assume” that their whole problem is the fact that they are on Psychiatric Medications. Mentally ill persons can have physical illnesses, too.
From someone who has worked in the medical profession and seen/heard these judgments passed.
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