Have you or a loved one been admitted to a hospital recently? Chances are that your experience has been anything but pleasant. Our clients increasingly report a lack of communication between doctors and patients when it comes to getting quick and complete information on health issues. Patients describe their experience as a maze of constant frustration. Sometimes hours pass before medical staff gets back to them. The time constraints placed on physicians between seeing patients at the office and checking on those in the hospital are great. Family members who have flown in to take care of and check on a parent have limited time to navigate the system before heading back to their lives, often in another state. Those in a hospital without family or kids are especially hit hard. After all, their focus should be on getting better and discharged; unfortunately, their current health status precludes them from advocating effectively for themselves.
There are steps you can take to help you through the process.
The solutions include having a doctor who is immediately available at the first sign of a health issue, services that can be quickly provided, such as an MRI, X-Ray, Lab tests, etc., that can significantly shorten the time it takes to get back to you. We'd like to hear from you.
Email your comments on the experience you've had with a hospital--good or bad.
There are many things that consume families with worry and angst while in the hospital. Next we'll address how the type of insurance you have can affect the care you receive from a doctor or hospital and how quickly you get back on your feet.
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