Q4-09 is not that encouraging, corporates are beating their head out to conceive a non-exist cost cuts, ever rising bench warmers, projects hardly come by and what you do in this recession?
Organize DU Meet and test your strength – Tug of War
Its very sad that once much trusted industry now turned out to be more corrupted and one running behind the money – yes its about the Healthcare Industry.
I would like to share couple of my experiences recently. One of my colleagues met with a bike accident, thanks to his helmet that saved his life. Not much of damage except for some bruises and a deep cut in his lips. As a precaution we thought of taking a MRI scan for a possible head injury.
First and foremost, we have come for an emergency and the front desk doesn’t know the charge codes that to be charged for a simple MRI scan. This incompetence of the front desk guy caused us solid 30 minutes just to pay the bill and until then the patient was waiting to take the scan.
The scan report came and a neurologist examined it. No signs of any bleeding or clot in the scan report and the guy was perfectly normal. Here is the trick, the chief doctor came to me and asked whether he has insurance coverage, I nodded yes. Then he had a discussion with the neurologist and other supporting docs. I kind of understanding what was happening, I went up to them and asked was there any issues? The neurologist said to me with a serious tone, there was a head injury (which is not) and we need to keep him under observation for 48 hours.
This been the trend in hospitals nowadays as soon as they understand the patient has insurance, they utter some medical jargons and convince the patient for unnecessary additional high end medications/ precautions. The terrified patient will have no choice and moreover he/ she won’t bother much on financial front as the insurance company going to take care to the expenses.
I really got pissed off and have to literally fight with them to get him discharged. The final ploy being used was, I have to sign a document saying I’m discharging with my own risk…!
Other disturbing and funny thing is that after treatment, we have to buy all the stuff that were used like suitors, plasters, needle, saline etc from the pharmacy and reload the casualty. Saline and other medications I can understand, but can’t the hospital afford plasters and suitors? Or can’t they charge us and replace it by themselves? Its makes me hardly understand the kind of hospitality these hospitals showing towards patients…its nothing but aggravating their pain and agony!
The second incident happened with
After sitting with the doctor I understood that he is a liver transplant specialist and not the general Hepatologist. He asked me some general questions (my occupation is the definite one!) and carefully noted down all in his prescription. One question that really bothered me was “are you reimbursed?” getting the details he prescribed some more lab tests and finally referred to the general Hepatologist.
For nothing I paid 500 bucks as consultation fee to him, anyway I have to visit the general hepatologist as well. What really irritated me was, while been waiting in his reception I again explained my purpose of visit to the same appointment guy. He would have very well told me that he is a liver transplant specialist and not a general Hepatologist. hmmn..after all his share also there in that 500 bucks. If the master earns more…the servant gets his share too!
Ok this happens, without complaining much I went to the payment counter and given my lab test papers. To my surprise the total lab test fee was around 16K and then I understood what it means “whether you would be reimbursed?” The common liver function test will cost only couple of grands. At least one thing I did right, checked the bill amount before paying it :)
