Hospitals aka Big Business

[Rerun]

I had to stay in the hospital overnight a week ago. 

I had surgery on Thursday (March 8th) and by Monday I was feeling light headed, my heart was racing, I had no energy.  Thoughts were I may need some blood.  After all, the center had ran out of heparin and I clotted off and they had to toss my kidney and lines, I'd had surgery, lots of blood work etc... 

So they toss me in the hospital to maybe give me a transfusion.  Labs come back that I'm low but not enough to trigger a blood transfusion.

Then the hospital's doctor takes over.... A "Hospitalist".  She says my surgery arm is infected.... even though my surgeon just left me saying my arm looked fine.  It was swollen and red but not infected.  I had no fever.  So... that Hospitalist ordered me an antibiotic (Vancomyson) which requires a shot in the stomach with heparin (ouch) and 3 different blood draws.  The surgeon ordered 2 in the first place; so 5 altogether.  Someone ordered an EKG (not sure who) but I had just had one on Thursday.  A Chest x-ray, which I had just had one the prior week.

Now, I'm thinking I was taken advantage of.  I have Medicare and Blue X Federal.  Can we say CASH COW.  Moo

To me that is BS what happened.  I was in for a possible blood transfusion and didn't need it.  Should be end of story.

Plus I was questioning everything.  I flipped out when the nurse came to give me a shot in the stomach of heparin.     So, maybe they would have ordered MORE tests had I not been such a bitch. 

That is just crazy to me.  How can they get away with that.  Why should Medicare pay for 2 EKG's and 2 chest x-rays within a week of each other?  They shouldn't and I shouldn't. 

This is just not right!   

[jeannea]

I don't know. You should definitely question everything and refuse what you don't need. But the rates are so low for Medicare reimbursement that I don't know if we're cash cows. I look at my statements from Medicare and Blue Cross. Someone charges $400 and they pay them $30. That sort of thing. I think it's more that these days they do a thousand procedures to make sure they're covered and you can't sue.

I'm sorry you had a sucky night in the hospital. I always refuse shots in the stomach since I'm on PD but I've had them and they hurt like hell. Did they ever figure out what was really wrong with you?

[Rerun]

No, they never did find out what was wrong with me.  I'm getting better on my own.  I upped my heart medication and my heart quit racing.  Did I tell my Cardiologist? No.  It would take 2 weeks to get in to see him and ASK so I just did it and it worked.

They say they hate medicare but medicare DOES pay.... maybe not what they charge, but they do pay.  They want $40 for a bandaid and Medicare pays them 90 cents.  Who is correct?

It is a bullshit game and we are the game pieces.

[Whamo]

I understand your frustration.  Last week I got a bill for a Hep C test that I'd already taken.  One that determines the strain of hepatitis you have.  Once you have it - it does not change, so it was a waste of money.   And it was not cheap.  It was over $500.   The crazy thing was the hospital that did it self-insures(I have their insurance), and so they ran up the bill on themselves.  I do not think your doctors see you as a cash cow, although it may appear that way, and I understand why you might think that.  They basically order lots of tests to cover their own rear ends should a lawsuit emerge, and they do.  But a lot of money is wasted on tests that aren't needed because of this fear.  That's my take on that stuff. 

[lmunchkin]

Rerun, I totally understand your frustration.  So much injustice goes on in these Hospitals.  But I do know that whenever a surgery is performed they want a chest X-ray to be sure everything is "clear".  J was in the hospital for 77 days with a ton of surgeries and a ton of chest x-rays!  Its down right frustrating!

I don't understand why all the blood work.  Seems rediculous to me!

God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[sullidog]

that's why when I had chest pains do to the dypperitimal I didn't go in because I already knew the problem and I would of had to under go unecessary tests.

[kitkatz]

MOOO!

[jeannea]

Has anyone read Moo by Jane Smiley? Awesome book.