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Chapter 44: How to Make a Hospital Hospitable
| hospital should have a plaque saying: There are some patients whom we cannot help; there are none whom we cannot harm. - Arthur Bloomfield |
While hospitals can provide a secure refuge when you are seriously ill, remember that hospitals can be scary places! For one thing, the very fact that your doctor wants you to be admitted into hospital means that he thinks you are quite ill and this in itself can generate considerable anxiety! Even worse, hospitals can be very unfriendly places. Not only do hospitals strip you of all your dignity (having to wear a half-open hospital gown which barely covers your body properly does not do much good to your ego!), but also they subject you to painful routines and humiliating rituals performed by a retinue of strangers. Moreover, you could be woken up at any time of the day, (or night), deprived of your privacy, forced to eat unpalatable food, cut off from friends and family, and denied a lot of the independence which you take so much for granted in daily life. Also, remember that hospitals can be dangerous to your health as well! Hospital-acquired infections have become increasingly common ( since a number of sick patients are gathered together under one roof); and errors and mix-ups are not unusual at all, especially in India, where the paramedical staff is often poorly trained. The first rule, therefore, is try to stay out of hospital as far as possible! However, if there is no choice, there is a lot you can do to improve the quality of your hospital stay. The first step is selecting a hospital. Often, you may have no choice in this regard. For example, your surgeon may operate at only a particular institution. Or your employer may have entered into a contract with a particular hospital, so that if you want your hospital expenses to be covered by your company, you may have to be admitted only to this hospital. However, if a choice is available, then how do you select the best hospital? Basically, TOP Hospitals fall under the following categories:
During a stay in the hospital, several options are available as to room choice. Depending on insurance coverage or personal preference, a patient may stay in a private room, a semi-private room or a ward. Private rooms may be deluxe (with amenities comparable to a five-star hotel in some hospitals) or first class, and offer the advantage of much needed peace and quiet. A major plus point is that your friends or relatives can stay with you; after all, you need to have someone who can look after your best interest when you in a hospital bed! In a semi-private room, curtains are put up around each bed that allow for some privacy, but the bathroom is usually common for the occupants. A ward is a hospital room that is large enough to accommodate several beds. Each bed may be curtained off during examination for privacy, but you are otherwise fully exposed to all passersby. However, the charges are much less than those of a private room. LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF Nobody likes to be in the hospital --- and its especially difficult if you have to be hospitalized for a long time. Some ideas which can help you to keep yourself from becoming bored, depressed or lonely if you have a long hospital stay include the following: keep a journal; write letters to family and friends; do activities such as needle point, sewing, knitting; listen to a radio; talk with other patients; read a book; do puzzles and word games; play computer games; and surf the Internet on a laptop. Hospitals can be dehumanizing places to be in, so try to personalize your surroundings as far as possible, by surrounding yourself with objects you enjoy, such as books, a radio, games and puzzles. Try to arrange for food from home, if at all possible --- hospital food has a deservedly bad reputation. Its also a good idea for you to have your mobile/cellphone with you, in case an unforeseen emergency crops up during your hospital stay. Its useful to ask for help from family and friends --- request them to come and visit you. Most people will be glad to oblige --- and remember to return the favour if someone you know is in hospital. If you like, you can ask them to bring food or fresh fruit that is not served in the hospital, so that you can look forward to eating something appetizing. And dont forget to look at the upside --- you get served breakfast in bed! Medical Records: TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE? Although your medical chart affixed to your bed is legally the property of the hospital, you should be aware of what kind of information is recorded on it. If you have any doubts, ask your doctor for an explanation. The chart should contain the following details:
TOP The Hospital Routine An average day in a hospital can be divided into five categories. They normally involve the following:
In a hospitals one finds so many people walking around in white uniforms that patients to become easily confused as to who does what! While its the normal procedure for all the staff to wear name tags that identify who they are and what their positions are, a understanding who does what in a hospital is beneficial. Physicians
Nurses are the ones who really take care of you when you are in hospital, and their responsibilities include: (1) taking and charting your vital signs (such as temperature, pulse and blood pressure); (2) taking care of your wound; (3) carrying out your doctors orders; (4) giving you your Nurses spend much more time with patients than doctors do, and will often be your primary contact with your medical caregivers. They can also teach you to care for yourself when you go home. TOP Additional Hospital Staff
HOW TO BE A COST-CONSIOUS HOSPITAL PATIENT Hospital bills can add up to huge amounts very easily, and you need to be aware of what step, you can do to save your money! The basic rule is simple: avoid an unnecessary stay in the hospital! The hospital should never be viewed as a place to get a good rest. Consider the following pointers:
TOP The following checklists can help you to retain control over your hospital care. Hospital checklist Reason for admission (Diagnosis) ___________________ What procedures, tests or treatments cannot be done as an outpatient? ________________________________________________ What tests could be done prior to admission to shorten hospital stay? ______________________________________________ Expected length of stay (days) _____________________ choice of hospitals: Hospital Average Daily Cost ______________ Rs _______ ________________ Rs _______ ________________ Rs _______ Can admission be arranged early in the morning ( rather than the previous night, thus helping to reduce your bill)? ____________________________________ Are consultations planned? _____________________ If yes, why, and who will perform them? ____________ Can the consultants be seen prior to admission? ____________________________________________ If diagnosis or treatment is unclear, has specialty consultation been considered? _________________ If not, why not?_______________________________ COMMENTS _____________________________________ Daily Hospital checklist Reason for continued hospitalization? What procedures, tests, or treatments cannot be done as an outpatient? Tests ordered today: __________________________________ Tests needed before discharge: ________________________ Medications: Medications ordered today? How often? Why? _______________________ ___________ _____________ _______________________ ___________ _____________ Can any medications be stopped? (Go over list) ___________ Can I eat (or eat more)? _______________________________ Can IV be removed? _________________________________ Can I walk around? __________________________________ What extra hospital equipment is presently in use? Can any procedures the use of any or equipment be discontinued? ______________________________________ How many physicians continue to be involved with care? ____________________________________________ Who? ________________ ________________ ___________ Why? ________________ ________________ ___________ Discharge plans When? _______ Where? _______________ Will additional nursing care be needed at home ? Has this been arranged? ___________________________ Has transportation home been arranged? ______________ When do I see the doctor after being discharged ? Where ? Whom do I contact if I have a medical problem ? Whom do I contact if I have a problem with the hospital bill ? TOP |
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Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!