When my parents where in the hospital, the doctors always seemed concerned about costs and payment before the welfare of the patient. Have you ever had the same impression?
by 
Koz_Dracon - Nelson Remembered
ANSWERS: 29
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No it free in the UK so money is never mentioned.
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Yes, I've even been locked out of a hospital ( doors locked) because I didn't have insurance a long time ago , - in Georgia + 5
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Yes, I work in a hospital and where there is no insurance involved it is a concern, as sad as it seems the hospital as a business, the term we use in most cases is "Risk Management" luckily we have qualified people who keeps the family up to date with account details and also advising them how to arrange finance, we also make arrangements with them keeping in mind that it is unforeseen circumstances so that they can settle the outstanding debt over a suitable period without chagrin interest on the account, the last alternative is to refer the patient to a state hospital where the care levels in some cases are not up to standard, so at the end of the day, it does cost money and they hospitals need to analyze the risk involved, sometimes the insurance is exhausted as well, so it is tough, good question though, hope the details was helpful...
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I see it all the time, what annoys me is when they have a drug that an can slow down cancer and yet it would cost a patient £50,000! people have had to sell their homes in one county, to find that in another county it has been given free! Docs look at the patient as a disease and what that would cost, forget about treating the person, its all about cost!
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All the time but they always ask to sign a form that Dr. is not responsible for anything. Dr. knows everything and why they are asking us to sign the form and without that they are not accepting any patient.
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i dont think so. my parents are both doctor and they never act like this one. this man should not be a doctor. he should be fired for that.
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Nothings Cheap....Ins: for Hospitals & Doctors come with a high cost. And things are not like they were. But in my point of view, the welfare of the Patient must come first. For a persons life is priceless. M.C.S.
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I was in the hospital several years ago from attempting suicide. I was there only 3 days and was not doing any better. One night I had saved all my medicine from the previous 2 days or so and took them all at 1 time WHILE in the hospital.. the next day the MD said she had to send me home. My therapist (back home) called her and told her what I had done.. She told him that she had no choice. My insurance company was making me leave and that unless I could come up with the $4000 a day to pay my bill RIGHT THEN she had to let me come home.. so I had to come home actively suicidal. I was supposed to have some dental work done a couple weeks ago.. the dentist knew I had no insurance.. I was told by the secretary that I had to pay UP FRONT before I even saw the MD or I could not get anything done.. It was to take 1/2 months salary for 1 tooth..I still have a massive tooth infection, some days I can't even open my mouth to eat or talk, but the MD didn't care..she wanted her money.
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It's not an impression, it's just a fact. They want their money first. A dentist did it to me rather than a doctor, but I sit here still with a temporary crown on my tooth that I'm hoping to God holds out because I can't afford to pay the full price for a permanent one. The dentist told me I could arrange a payment plan for it and it was going fine, but then the company was bought out by someone else and suddenly the new company didn't allow payment plans. It was either all the remaining money up front or no service. I really do hate people sometimes.
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I have NEVER had that happen to me and for that I am grateful. I have yet to run across an uncaring nurse or doctor.
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There are two types of people in the hospital. Patients and customers. Customers have money or insurance and therefore take priority over patients. I have always snickered at companies that call themselves "insurance companies". There is no "insurance" that the will be there if you really get sick. We may have the best medicine in this country, but the worst access to in the world. I welcome a socialist medical plan.
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Yes, I he seen this. They seem to first need to know if you have insurance and then how are you going to pay, for the elderly, who owns your home, how much is in your bank account and is it in your name? And then they get into the care. Even when we just took my husband to the doctor right after we filled out the information sheets and handed it back to the receptionist, she said oh, you have no insurance, pay up front before treatment will begin:-( And then she wouldn't take a credit card we had to pay cash or check. It's very sad!
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well, no. im guessing your an american, because you seem to be the only country in the world that have that problem, ubt hey, its all in your great american dream right!
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I have seen it several times. Once with a collapsed lung and again with liver failure, I was barely alive the second time, they didn't care.. they had to have the insurance card first, right up front. Big teaching hospital, they are the worst!
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It sounded this way to you, I'm sure. Not only do physicians have to be experts in our profession and specialty, we also find that we have had to become business experts as well. The reason I ask questions about a patient's insurance and coverage situation (I don't ask about payment), is for the benefit of the patient. It's disturbing that I must do this, but in the long run, best for the patient. I don't want a patient stuck with the cost of a $1000 MRI if their plan called for a precert, and they nor I were aware. Many HMOs require approval for almost every procedure or test. The questions are most likely asked out of concern that your parents not be stuck with numerous medical issues and bills upon their discharge. The most important thing you can do is act as your parents' advocate and simply ask the physician, "Why do you want to know?" Doctors are not gods; this is a lesson everybody needs to learn.
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Yes.
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I think it's common knowledge that the level of service you receive in the hospital is dependent on your ability to pay. If they know you have full coverage, they will make sure you have full treatment.
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How awfull ,i live in england and if we have to go to hospital or have any operations or even see the doctor we dont have to pay a penny ,what about all them homeless people ,if they get ill do they not get any help ,and how unthoughtful of the doctors to be concerned about payment first before someones life .
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Yep. It's always money first
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I later came to find out that it was the first night for the new students at the University hospital, and they were ordering up extra and overly in-depth test to give them some practice. For example, a simple $150 ultrasound was all that was needed, but instead they ran a $3,000 CAT-scan.
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Wow, I am actually amazed at the implication that Doctors/hospitals should not be concerned about how they are going to get paid when getting paid means they can pay their student loans, liability insurance, the support staff, etc...which is what allows them have a door for you to walk through to get services. As a healthcare provider, I love helping people but if my services aren't valued enough by the client to pay for them then they don't need my services very bad. Do you go the grocery store and expect to get food without paying for it? You must have good nutrition to be healthy. I just don't see how wanting to get paid for services provided equates to not caring. I care when people can't afford to see me. It's a sad state of affairs but I can't let that guilt me into providing services at my own expense. If you owned a gas station and peopled pulled in and said they needed gas so they could go about their life, how would you stay in business if you gave it away. I don't understand expecting something for nothing.
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I know you the same way you know me...from the words that are typed here. If you want your feelings to be the doctor's priority, that is your choice. I would prefer the doctors doing what they need to do to "work the system" so my loved one could be treated. I understand that their illness and treatment is not about ME. I realize you feel a sense of entitlement because you live somewhere where are not permitted to take personal responsbility for your life...I can't imagine being forced to work in a country that I didn't want to. I realize from your "perception" of my attitude that you probably don't understand the concept of personal responsibility. If you need to be taken care of emotionally during your father's illness, you need a therapist or doctors of your own, not his doctors. Good luck to you.
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I luuurve so-called "socialised medicine". The one time you do not want to worry about money is when you are ill. In the UK, all medicine is free. You can pay to skip queues and to get more comfortable hospital rooms, but you can get pretty good treatment when you need it whatever the cost without worrying about being financially ruined. I think that is brilliant.
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Oh yes, money is the all mighty important thing. They have thrown very sick people out of the hospital in Houston!!!
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Absolutely not! I live in canada we have a civilized heathcare system.
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Too many times to mention. I had to prove to my doctors I had a job before my brain surgery was started. After waiting on the table for over 3 hours I threatened a lawsuit if I wasn't told one way or the other. When I was told I had to wait another hour I told them "No I've got to go call my laywer. He showed up within 20 minutes and went to the doctor and told him he was holding me against my will and not only would he be sued but the hospitial along with him. Needless to say he got off his rear and finally did the surgery.
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I've never come across that and my father has been in hospital quite a few times over the past ten years, following heart by-pass surgery. I was in hospital with serious injuries as a result of an accident, as was my wife on another occasion. We all live in Europe though.
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You know what, I am leaving this conversation. It is no longer a good use of my time. My responses do not post the first time...I have to post a test message and then edit it...it's a pain. AND some of my posts have been removed...I can't imagine why, they made very good points. The bottom line is...I know that no matter what the ones I love will be OK...no matter what the doctors do or don't do...no matter how much money we have or don't have...regardless of whether we have insurance or not...we will die...everyone I know and love will die. But I know that no one dies until God is ready for them to and once they are dead, I have nothing to worry about because we are saved. Maybe that's why I have a different set of expectations. If God wants my loved one to live he will provide the doctors and resources for it to be. Best wishes to you all.
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NO NEVER but I live in Canada, were normal
- M.C.S. - Dave RELATED QUESTIONS
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