WTF - Hospitals ?!

[TheStromba]

My mom was just admitted. She has a history of heart problems. You can not get a diagnosis if you are admitted on the weekend !!

These fucking doctors are missing in action all weekend long !!!
Nobody knows what is going on, and no doctors besides the emergency room doctors are available.

You can get better service from a 7/11.

[shortz]

What kind of area do you live in? There should always be a physician on call to admit patients on the weekend. At our local hospital, there are 4 main offices of internal/general medicine that admit patients, even if they are not a patient at these offices, they can still admit them.

As for diagnosing, that should be done in the ER, unless her underlying problem can't be identified without certain tests that are either not able to be done right away, or, they just take time to get results back. Other than that, unless she has something uncommon that needs to be researched, there should be no problem in diagnosing what the problem is.

Is it her heart that put her there? What problems was she having that made her to to the ER?

[TheStromba]

She has a metal heart valve, a pacemaker, she has had a stroke. She had the valve and stroke when in her mid 40's (she is 64 now)

She was short of breath. The tests are not able to be done right away because the hospital does not do these tests on the weekend.

Why would ANY test not be done on the weekend ?

The ER doctor has to refer to a Cardiologist, and there is not one available right now.

[shortz]

Hmmm, that is odd. I wonder if they are talking about sending her to the cath lab. Cardiologists never work on the weekends, instead, they are usually on call. You are right though, they can be reall mother fuckers when it comes to patients. That's not just at your hospital, that's at all hospitals. They are one of the highest paid of all physicians, you would think they could atleast come in on the weekends.

The test they are taking about is most likely having to go in and check to see if she needs a stent. Most likely, when people get sent to the cath lab, they do need one.

Was there chest pain involved too? If it was just shortness of breath, they would be screening for a PE (pulminary embolism or pulminary edema), perhaps CHF if she has had anything in her past like that.

I wish her the best. It can def be nerve racking. Not only to you and the family, but, for the ER docs too. THey are the ones who get the blamed for the cardiologist's actions.

[shortz]

Here is a nice story...*rolling eyes...I had a cardiac arrest patient come into the hospital while I was working there one night. The woman came in, was put on the moniter, and an US was done on her heart. She was immediately rushed to the cath lab. I was like, WTF!!?? How did this get pulled off, a Sunday evening. Well, turned out, the husband of this woman was a cardiologist and he made a phone call and ALL of the cardiologists in the hospital came in for the procedure. I know it's good to know people, but fuck, give that kind of service to all people. HUman life is human life...sheesh.

[TheStromba]

Originally Posted by shortz

Here is a nice story...*rolling eyes...I had a cardiac arrest patient come into the hospital while I was working there one night. The woman came in, was put on the moniter, and an US was done on her heart. She was immediately rushed to the cath lab. I was like, WTF!!?? How did this get pulled off, a Sunday evening. Well, turned out, the husband of this woman was a cardiologist and he made a phone call and ALL of the cardiologists in the hospital came in for the procedure. I know it's good to know people, but fuck, give that kind of service to all people. HUman life is human life...sheesh.

That's what I am talking about. It's not like they are not fairly compensated.

These doctors are numb to human pain and suffering. I understand that you cant take everything to heart, but it has gone too far.

1 or 2 extra doctors working in shifts will cover the weekend. Lives will be saved but alas...golf games will suffer

The system in this country is broken, and short of socialized medicine (which I do not agree with) I have not idea how to fix it.

[THE BOUNCER]

I have never heard of that. Do they think bad things only happen to people on the weekdays? For the amount of money those assholes charge they should be there 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.

Hope she is ok.

[Puddles]

Originally Posted by TheStromba

She has a metal heart valve, a pacemaker, she has had a stroke. She had the valve and stroke when in her mid 40's (she is 64 now)

She was short of breath. The tests are not able to be done right away because the hospital does not do these tests on the weekend.

Why would ANY test not be done on the weekend ?

The ER doctor has to refer to a Cardiologist, and there is not one available right now.

That is just insane. The supermarket, the mall, & amusement parks are all open on weekends, why aren't important services in medical facilities available???

[rvgfrth4g]

Sorry to hear about your situation Stromba. Bouncer, not to be cynical...but they make that kind of money because they spend the better half of their life dedicated to school so they COULD make that kind of money and work when they want to. Think about it for 11yrs they didn't have a social life, no partying, no gym time. If I did that I sure as hell wouldn't be working weekends. I'm just saying I don't think all doctors are assholes when they went through all that to get where they are.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by BigRed54

Sorry to hear about your situation Stromba. Bouncer, not to be cynical...but they make that kind of money because they spend the better half of their life dedicated to school so they COULD make that kind of money and work when they want to. Think about it for 11yrs they didn't have a social life, no partying, no gym time. If I did that I sure as hell wouldn't be working weekends. I'm just saying I don't think all doctors are assholes when they went through all that to get where they are.

LoL, I suppose doctors arent assholes. That was kind of a term not really what I ment. I can tell you this though my friend, if you or your family ever have to go throw this on a weekend you will be singing a different tune instead of sticking up for doctors in general. I dont give a shit if they go to school for 20 years, there should always be a full staff at every hospitol.

[rvgfrth4g]

I agree...

[hitmansb]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

LoL, I suppose doctors arent assholes. That was kind of a term not really what I ment. I can tell you this though my friend, if you or your family ever have to go throw this on a weekend you will be singing a different tune instead of sticking up for doctors in general. I dont give a shit if they go to school for 20 years, there should always be a full staff at every hospitol.

Hardly the fault of the doctors....it's the fault of the hospital's administrator for not working out an on-call schedule that dictates that a specialist in internal medicine or a cardiologist be on call at all times. It comes down to $$$; doctors aren't going to agree to be on call, essentially not allowing them to do a damn thing with their weekend, unless they are guaranteed money to do so. This is where the hospital has to budget for such compensation, and voila...if you're in a community with at least two or three such specialists, there will always be one on call for the weekend. I live in a city of around 20,000 people, and there is always a specialist in internal medicine or cardiology on call at all times.

[hitmansb]

And remember: you wouldn't work without being paid, so why do you think doctors should?

[Stonecold54]

I bet its the governments fault..people don't realize the slope we are sliding down with healthcare in this country...its sad but everyone is interested in that universal health care crap. Hospitals are now some of the worst run places because of the bureacracy that has been put in place.

[shortz]

Originally Posted by stonecold54

I bet its the governments fault..people don't realize the slope we are sliding down with healthcare in this country...its sad but everyone is interested in that universal health care crap. Hospitals are now some of the worst run places because of the bureacracy that has been put in place.

I dunno about that. We have some of the best healthcare in the world. I would say Germany is one of the few countries that may have us beat. I have worked with the system before.

We have alot of nonprofit hospitals that are not allowed to turn down anyone to service. Most of them are not hurting at all. Yes, there are those few that are not good hospitals, but there are far more good facilities that bad.

The hospital is responsible for certain policies. They can easily prevent this from happening. Our local hospital must have about 8 cardiologists, not including Fellows. We are the major heart facility. I am sure each of them taking call every 6-8 weeks would not kill them. It's like pulling teeth sometimes though.

[Puddles]

Originally Posted by hitmansb

And remember: you wouldn't work without being paid, so why do you think doctors should?

We pay through the nose for our medical insurance which in turn compensates the doctors, the hospital, etc. I don't think anyone expects the doctors to work for free. We just expect them to do the job that's required.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by hitmansb

And remember: you wouldn't work without being paid, so why do you think doctors should?

i pay these fuckers like crazy with taxes. your in canada bro. please dont speak to me about how it works here in america. you guys took one thing i said about doctors and blew it out of porportion. when i say "doctors" i ment the whole system in general.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by Puddles

We pay through the nose for our medical insurance which in turn compensates the doctors, the hospital, etc. I don't think anyone expects the doctors to work for free. We just expect them to do the job that's required.

exactlly what i ment.

[TheStromba]

Originally Posted by shortz

I dunno about that. We have some of the best healthcare in the world. I would say Germany is one of the few countries that may have us beat. I have worked with the system before.

We have alot of nonprofit hospitals that are not allowed to turn down anyone to service. Most of them are not hurting at all. Yes, there are those few that are not good hospitals, but there are far more good facilities that bad.

The hospital is responsible for certain policies. They can easily prevent this from happening. Our local hospital must have about 8 cardiologists, not including Fellows. We are the major heart facility. I am sure each of them taking call every 6-8 weeks would not kill them. It's like pulling teeth sometimes though.

*rant*
The problem is that no one is going to MAKE the hospitals change policy.
They have a policy that puts human life at risk and goverment does not care.
The government sticks its head in far more trivial matters.

The problem with healthcare in a capitalist system is that

1) You have almost no ability to compare prices and have almost no ability to know the quality of the service you are receiving.

2)The alternative to NOT purchasing their product is sickness and or death.

They know this and have chosen to take maximum advantage of it.
You can make a more informed decision buying a pair of shoes.

[Kayak Jones]

Must be a level 4 hospital. Move her to a level three rating or higher and you will not have that problem again. Unfortunately, the docs will still in all likeleyhood be assholes. And cardioliogists are pretty much the worst of the lot.

[TheStromba]

Originally Posted by Kayak Jones

Must be a level 4 hospital. Move her to a level three rating or higher and you will not have that problem again. Unfortunately, the docs will still in all likeleyhood be assholes. And cardioliogists are pretty much the worst of the lot.

How do you find out what "level" the hospital is ?

[Kayak Jones]

Originally Posted by TheStromba

How do you find out what "level" the hospital is ?

You can check online. Don't know the exact address but you should be able to find it by typing in " hospital trauma levels" for your state. or just ask the ER director. An ER charge nurse should know as should any ER doc there. If that fails ask the CEO or hospital head cheese's secretary. Level 4 is the lowest rating. Basically it means nobody on call and not even really required. Level 3 is far better in most states and a level 1 would be )at least in the Houston area a "teaching facility" (Ben Taub or Hermann) that has all the specialties covered 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

[shortz]

Originally Posted by Kayak Jones

You can check online. Don't know the exact address but you should be able to find it by typing in " hospital trauma levels" for your state. or just ask the ER director. An ER charge nurse should know as should any ER doc there. If that fails ask the CEO or hospital head cheese's secretary. Level 4 is the lowest rating. Basically it means nobody on call and not even really required. Level 3 is far better in most states and a level 1 would be )at least in the Houston area a "teaching facility" (Ben Taub or Hermann) that has all the specialties covered 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

Trauma level doesn't always relate to the medical side of things. One of the hospitals in my area is a level 2 trauma center, where my wife and I work(ed), the other has no trauma resources, but is still a good hospital.

As for the "Teaching facilities", that just means they have a resident program and externship program. My hospital is both a trauma center and a teaching facility and the cardiologists still are not there over the weekends.