Do all hospitals suck?

[johnnie]

I have said a few things here about my recent doctor visits and my surgery, but in a nutshell:

I first went in for a hernia and I left with anti-depressants. I then had to go to a surgeon and the guy acted like I was a bother. I also had to fill out the same paperwork each time. Don't they use a data base and computers these days? I had to go through both doctors, some nurses and a few other people that took tests and all, every single one of them asked if I smoked and told me I need to quit. I understand that, but I would think they should do their job and stop with the anti-smoking campaigns.

I had my surgery and now I can't get answers. I don't know if I was sewn up, glued together or stapled. They called to ask how I was yesterday and I asked a few questions to the woman that called. She didn't know anything about my operation and said I should call the surgeon's office. I called just now and made a follow-up appointment and then I asked the nurse (or whatever she is) about my operation. She said she had no idea and the doctor just left. I then asked about my medication and if I run out and feel I need more can I? She said, you can call, but I'm sure you will be fine. I then said I wanted to shower and what should I do about the bandage, and she said she didn't really know but if I cover it up i should be ok. She sounded extremely bored.

I don't really go to doctors, but when I used to go to my old hospital (Kaiser), they always seemed helpful and pleasant. Have things changed that much? Did I choose the wrong hospital to do my business at? I am thinking of finding a different place to use for now on. Thanks for letting me rant, but i really don't know if this is normal or what.

[wildhorses]

1. well, currently I work in the ER at the local county hospital

and from my end it is a nightmare. We are short staffed and top heavy with management. Plenty of 9-5 er's drawing nice salaries yet doing nothing toward patient care. I hate that it is like this. 12 hour shifts are too long and actually dangerous for every one involved. :shrug:

edited to add:hug: hope you are feeling better soon. Keep the dressing dry and change it in 24-48 hours. This is just a suggestion as we not supposed to give medical advice here. Schedule a follow-up in 7-10 days and be on the lookout for signs of infection...you know redness and swelling around the incision and if you spike a fever...

sorry for your experience.

[johnnie]

3. Well, the woman I called today doesn't seem busy

When I went to that office to talk to the surgeon, she was sitting behind the desk watching some game show on TV. When she asked if I had my co-pay I said I only had a 20 on me (it's 15) and she got bothered and said "Oh, now I have to find change". The office was empty the whole time I was there.

I understand being under-staffed and all. I am really an understanding person, but in this case, I just think she could have helped out a little more than what she did.

[wildhorses]

5. was this at the dr's office or at the hospital?

please reread my first post cos I added to it before your reponse...

[johnnie]

10. The surgeons office

Thanks for the suggestions. The thing is, I don't even know what they did to dress it. It has a big clear patch and then some cloth underneath that. The one nurse said if I see a little blood I could change out the dressing but not the bandage. Whatever that means..lol.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Sic your primary care physician on the surgeon's office.

Sometimes surgeons will respond only to other doctors.

If I got that attitude about needing to find change I would have said your choice, find change or agree that I'll mail it in when I have the exact change. If it's her job to accept copays, she's not doing her job very well if she doesn't have change for a $20.

[XNASA]

2. Do you have a followup scheduled?

My last couple of hospital experiences has been rather impersonal, now that you mention it.

They just kinda shoved me out the door with a prescription for painkillers and a sheet of paper telling me how to care for my wound.

How you feeling besides?

[johnnie]

6. Yeah, I called to make the followup.

I am guessing after that I won't go back, not there anyway. They didn't even give me any information on taking care of my wound.

I'm doing better. Still sore and I still have a few percocets left. When the initial anesthesia wore off it felt like someone came over to me and kicked my in the stomach about 100 times, but now I am used to it so it isn't that bad. Thanks for asking.

[nini]

4. report them to your insurance carrier

and find another medical group/doctor. They're not all that bad.

[johnnie]

8. They are considered one of the better Hospitals in Cleveland

I won't report them, but I will start asking more people I know about their own experiences. I would hope they all aren't like that. Thanks.

[nini]

12. Sounds like it's more the doctor's office than the hospital

The office seems to be less than willing to give you the info you need up front etc. They're the ones I would report to my insurance.


Either way.. it's a sign of the times in this country when it comes to medical care. We're screwed basically. :-(

[Breeze54]

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[johnnie]

11. Thanks

I'll check it out.

[Orrex]

13. In my admittedly limited experience

A great deal of the problem is a matter of perception. An ER patient, or the parent of an ER patient, is totally freaked out with worry and and anxiety because nobody appears to be doing anything to help. Lots of stuff goes on behind the scenes, of course, and much of the hold-up is the result of necessary delays, such as lab-work or x-rays, but to the patient it seems (understandably) that they're being ignored.

It doesn't help when half a dozen nurses are standing around chatting about last night's American Idol or how disappointing their Weight Watchers meals are. Discussions like these, while common to any workplace, foster the impression that the staff has no regard for timely patient care or comfort.

And sometimes it not just a matter of perception, alas. I once burned my hand pretty badly and sat in an exam room for an hour listening to the attending doctor shoot the shit with an ambulance driver. When they'd finished talking about fly-fishing or whatever, the doctor glanced at my hand and said that I could go. Thanks, doc--where were you an hour ago?

Sure, some doctors, some nurses, and some orderlies are assholes--that's how it goes. But the big problem is that the hard work done by hospital staff behind the scenes might go unnoticed (or unappreciated) because the person who's visible isn't visibly doing anything. It would be helpful if someone were assigned to tend to the patients' comfort, or at least to make them feel like they're people rather than "the next case."

I have nothing but admiration for people who do this difficult, stressful, and important work, but the hospitals should do a better job of supporting those workers by ensuring that patients come away from the experience with the sense that their care wasn't based solely on a brute-force assembly-line mentality.

[johnnie]

15. I agree with you

I know a lot of stuff goes on in the background, but the people I had to deal with just seemed pissed off that I bothered them in the middle of a TV show or something.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Stay on them johnnie... I wound up in the ICU last year from a staph

infection received in the OR that traveled to my lungs. Yes, it is so many times, just patient processing. My primary care doctor is wonderful though and was stunned when he came on rounds and found me in the ICU. They let a breathing problem (me tell them I couldn't breathe and them getting me nasal spray) go on for a day and a half. My blood/oxygen got to the low 70's. My cousin is a nurse and says it is very unfortunate that we are now left to advocate for ourselves. Please feel better soon. :hug:

[johnnie]

16. Thanks MrsGrumpy!

I don't plan on going back anytime soon. The last time I went to a doctor was 12 years ago when i shot my eye out with a rubber-band. Well, tore the cornea..lol. I just knew I needed to go for this and get it taken care of.

I just wasn't ready for the rudeness I received from just about everyone I came in contact with. There were some other things that happened there, but I just didn't want to write a book.