Hospital experience, wheeled to cashier's office

[Liberal_in_LA]

years ago I had surgery. When checking out, I could walk just fine but they insisted that I ride in a wheel chair. They wheeled me
to the billing office where the cashier put pressure on me to pay the out of pocket immediately. I was insured and just assumed I'd be billed later as was done in those days. Anyone else have an experience like that?


Later I realized that had I left my hospital room walking, they'd have no control over me.

[midnight]

1. K&R . I have not heard of this, but this is 2011. I wonder what changed..

[Statistical]

2. The wheeling out is common practice.

If they let you walk, you fall, sue hospital. Far cheaper to wheel everyone out.

1) Not saying you personally would sue
2) It is pure shit they wheeled you into cashier's office

Still that is why most hospitals do that. Risk mitigation. The lawyers and accountants have figured out it is cheaper to wheel everyone out that risk one persons suing the hospital.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. They didn't ask my permission to wheel me to cashier's office.

Just did. It was very embarrassing because I wasn't dressed my best after being in hospital for a few days. Really just wanted to go straight to the car.

[TheMadMonk]

8. Watch almost any TV show. Patients get wheeled to the door...

...all the time. And the reason is far more about liability issues than ensuring a confrontation with a cashier.

And I think at least some of the reasoning is due to the difference between polished lino/tiles and concrete/asphalt and the tendency to minor unsteadiness in patients that have been in bed for more than a few days.

Your comment about your dress also comes into it. Vanity has a lot to answer for both ways. WTF did you care? The people who know you also know the situation and the opinion of those who don't shouldn't worry you. In the other direction, imagine how many idiots every day check out in leather soled and/or spike heeled shoes.


That this comes on top of that, is probably inevitable. So enjoy the side trip. Refer to THEIR policy of encouraging patients not to keep valuables, confirm the billing address and direct your porter to take you to the exit.

Hostility won't help you in these situations, and if they're hostile towards you, keep your temper and ask for their supervisor.

[snooper2]

11. why were you in the hospital?

[Liberal_in_LA]

16. surgery. Not emergency. pre scheduled.

[Luciferous]

4. My husband had to go to the emergency room a couple of years

ago. They came in and asked for a check to cover his copay while he was waiting for treatment.

[CurtEastPoint]

6. Yep, in the ER, asked for CC info for prepay of copay.

Fuckers. EXCELLENT care but shitty customer service, IMHO.

[udbcrzy2]

9. Yep, same here

Daughter in ER and was asked for $100 co-pay. Gave them credit card as I did not have $100 cash in my pocketbook.

[virgogal]

5. The wheeling is common----going to the office I never heard of that.

[csziggy]

7. Similar experience - I had made prior arrangements but was harassed for payment

Before they would let me leave after an outpatient procedure. I had a bed reaction to the anesthesia and was puking so bad I almost tore my stitches open and there was this chirpy little b**** in high heels demanding full payment for everything. I had not even taken my purse into the hospital so I couldn't even write her what would have been a bad check to get her to go away. The real pisser was she did not even have an itemized bill to give me, she just wanted full payment based on an estimate.

When I did get the bill, it was more than three times what I had been quoted and included charges that were never discussed. I talked to the doctor and he got it reduced to what I had been told it would be - at least that is what he told me. I suspect he took pity on me and paid the difference himself. He was that kind of person.

ETA: That was in 1977. I will never go back to that hospital, even if it is the main trauma center in this area. I'd rather die of my injuries than go through their doors.

[david13]

10. Hey, I had to pay on the way in the door; that way when I went out

(in the chair, they insisted) I was already paid in full.
dc

[monmouth]

13. I was about to give birth, only an hour or so away, by gawd into the

cashier's office they took me. I made her life miserable though, so that was a good thing.

[david13]

15. No I cheerfully paid. I didn't want to get any bad feelings going

as I was going in there. I figured I better be nice to those people. As it was, I didn't think I was going to come out alive.
I was surprised, and ultimately delighted that I did come out alive. And thankful, that anyone could or would do anything for me. Not everyone will do surgery you know; some of these people will not even give medical advice (I mean here on du).
dc

[IMATB]

12. Yes

last year. I was asked to pay $100 up front at the ER before I even answered any questions or gave the hospital any insurance card.

I was also asked for payment up front at 2 doctor's offices. I had never had that happen before. I always paid after the visit.

Last but not least, we had to pay a dentist $200 up front for an appointment to do a root canal. They wanted another $65 up front for a future cleaning.

WTH ?

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. Ok, so I'm not the only one

[Vinca]

14. I've been dealing with a painful condition and ended up at the ER last week.

I hadn't been there for 40 years, but the pain was too much to bear. After treatment, I still couldn't walk on my own. I don't think they dared wheel me to any cashier. I'm sure I'll get a hefty bill, though. Actually, this particular hospital is quite sympathetic and I've never felt as if I'm being taken advantage of. I did have a bad experience a week or so ago when trying to make an appointment with a specialist. The receptionist made me feel like such a low life because I was uninsured, I ended up canceling the appointment later in the day. It really pisses me off. I consider myself a victim of big insurance and don't need a doctor's office worker piling on. I come prepared to pay cash and they should be happy as a clam not to have to file a million claim forms. My faith was restored when a neurologist called me herself after the ER doctor had spoken to her. She's booked up for weeks, but worked me in for next week.