Comparisons of medical systems

[nadinbrzezinski]

Yes I get to play how do things look somwhere else. So dad is in the hospital, private hospital, in Mexico. (No, not something that serious). So what am I getting to see? Well nurses are less harried... ratio between nurse:patient is higher, and because of that people are in a far better mood, and all smiles. THey are also quite capable by the way.

Two years ago when he fell and spent some time in a US hospital... lets just say I got to see the place with nu7rses that were harried overworked and under apreciated. Oh and it was also a private hospital. SO the comparison is quite valid.

Oh and lets not start with cost ok. He does not have insurance (that is another story)... and it will run what an ER visit would run you, without going to the hospital. THis is a problem when you think about it.

Ah the joys of looking after our elderly parents...

[chandler2]

1. Translate, please.

"Oh and lets not start with cost ok. He does not have insurance (that is another story)... and it will run what an ER visit would run you, without going to the hospital. THis is a problem when you think about it."

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. two days of hospitalization

in the regular ward, with a few procedures, will run about the same as three hours in an emergency room.

[enlightenment]

2. Hope your dad is feeling better soon -

it is never fun when the parental unit is in hospital, serious or not.

My mom's last stay, I discovered a new (to me, anyway) 'service' being offered. I could sign on to be a special helper - it came with a nifty plastic badge and a little notebook for jotting down stuff (woohoo!). Agreeing to the 'service' allowed me to accompany my mother to radiology, etc., and discuss her care with the nurses and doctors. It also meant that I ended up doing EVERYTHING for her that would normally fall under the job description of an LPN or nurse's aide - stopping at injecting drugs.

I don't mind taking care of her, of course, but it seemed like a chintzy way to cut back on hospital staff. Carrot and stick stuff; we'll let you in on what and why we're doing things to your mom if you'll take over 90% of her care. They didn't give me a good answer as to whether or not they would have listened to me when I asked about her treatment had I not signed up as a 'helper'.

Didn't make the bill any smaller, either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Well I am doing the insulin injections

but that is on orders from the Doctor, since my mom and by extension me, have him in extremely tight control.

(And I used to be a medic in Mexico...)

But that is becuase HIS doctor put that in the orders. Nothing special about getting a badge or a notebook or anything like that.

And no it is never fun... but at least this is not something that is serious... the underlying cause is, but what they need to do is not.

[MerryBlooms]

5. I think it depends on which US hospital

Three years ago, I spent 4 mths in a hospital in south FL - my son refused to leave me because the nursing care was so awful. (Double dosing, none responses, no bathing until the doctor forced the issue, no room cleaning for over a week, no reading of doctor's orders for not moving patient whose spine was unstable, etc ...) My son didn't dare leave me alone with the staff for fear I'd end up dead within hours.

Two years ago, I spent 3 mths in the hospital here in NW OR, the care was amazing and my son felt comfortable going home at night. After the experience in FL, it took a lot of evidence of improved care for him to do that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yeah extended care facilities can be a nightmare

now the rule of having a patient advocate works anywhere in the world.

[MerryBlooms]

7. I don't know the difference between long care facility

and a regular hospital, which I was in.

I had a patient advocate throughout both stays. Your patient advocate isn't there during shift changes, which in FL, was nearly a death sentence for me 4 times.