Visiting our Hospital Has Turned Into a Cattle Call

[Jules]

@jimintoronto That seems like a much better procedure. If they see a polyp, do they remove it right away. I presume you have to the pre-op cleansing too.

Years ago an acquaintance had her bowel pierced during the regular procedure. She almost didn’t make it.

 

[win231]

@jimintoronto That seems like a much better procedure. If they see a polyp, do they remove it right away. I presume you have to the pre-op cleansing too.

Years ago an acquaintance had her bowel pierced during the regular procedure. She almost didn’t make it.

Most don't if that happens.

 

[jimintoronto]

@jimintoronto That seems like a much better procedure. If they see a polyp, do they remove it right away. I presume you have to the pre-op cleansing too.

Years ago an acquaintance had her bowel pierced during the regular procedure. She almost didn’t make it.

The pre op cleaning solution is a smaller amount, and a different type. It is up to the Gastro MD about polyp removal. The virtual colonoscopy is much less invasive, and patients suffer less discomfort during it. Mine was fast and painless, with no sedation. My Gastro MD is one of the leaders in developing this new method. He is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto Medical School. JimB.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

We definitely do have that power to refuse, and we patients do need to remember that, and feel completely free to exercise it, if and whenever, we want to. Even if you are at the appointment to have it, when you find out something they do with it, that you do not want.

I have refused, more that a few times over the past years.
One of those that I decided to refuse once right there, I did decide to reschedule later on, after I had more fully researched the methods and reasons and options. I was then more comfortable with deciding to have it.
Another one, I decided to have done later, at a different Provider that would listen to my requests regarding it.
The others, I decided not to have at all, and was very glad not to have them. Other doctors agreed, I didn't need them!

On the other hand, and in the OP's post, I think, we sometimes decide or feel it is the best thing for our own health, after we have tried other methods, to have the unwanted and likely un-needed test or procedure, for the reason that: the doctors and/or insurance, etc, might refuse to give us the needed procedures that we do want, until after we've had the ones that they want first.
A bad spot to be in, but then, we have to decide between our options.

"the doctors and/or insurance, etc, might refuse to give us the needed procedures that we do want, until after we've had the ones that they want first." I thought about this too Kaila. Of course I don't know if that would have been the case with Officer. It's unfortunate that sometimes meeting insurance company criteria is more important than doing what's medically necessary, especially when not only health but pocketbooks are affected.

 

[jimintoronto]

"the doctors and/or insurance, etc, might refuse to give us the needed procedures that we do want, until after we've had the ones that they want first." I thought about this too Kaila. Of course I don't know if that would have been the case with Officer. It's unfortunate that sometimes meeting insurance company criteria is more important than doing what's medically necessary, especially when not only health but pocketbooks are affected.

Imagine a medical care system where decisions are made between the patient and their Doctor with no thought about insurance companies, or their budgets. That is how it works in Canada. JimB.

 

[Murrmurr]

Imagine a medical care system where decisions are made between the patient and their Doctor with no thought about insurance companies, or their budgets. That is how it works in Canada. JimB.

A lot of Americans think that's how it would work if the US had national healthcare, too. But it wouldn't. It would be even worse. It won't work until it's built to be incorruptible and impermeable to politics, and our congress isn't going to let that happen.

That's how I see it, anyway.

 

[Kaila]

I think it used to be that way here in the USA, too, or much more that way,
that patients and doctors made the decisions, years ago, from my own experiences here,
but it seems that the past few decades, our systems have evolved all the way to this present other extreme direction, which is difficult for sure.

 

[jimintoronto]

Tomorrow at 1PM I will be at Women's College Hospital to have a CT scan with contrast material to look at my kidneys. This test was ordered by my Endocrinologist, to look at possible nodules on my kidneys. The test takes about ten minutes to do. No cost to me. I will see the Endocrinologist in person on Monday to review the findings. The test results will be sent to me by email the day after the test was done, as is usual here.

Women's College is a hospital that does not have "inpatient beds " all of their services are conducted on a day clinic basis. This allows it to have more diverse services in the building. It also means no kitchen to prepare patient meals, although there is a food sales area in the main entrance/lobby area, with name brand food outlets who pay a hefty monthly rent to the hospital. Within the 4 block radius around Women's there are 5 other hospitals. Toronto General, Mount Sinai , Sick Kid's, Toronto Rehab, and St Mike's . TGH , Sick Kids, and St Mikes are all level 4 trauma centers with roof top landing pads for helicopter medevac flights. For fixed wing flights, the Toronto Island Airport is a ten minute drive from "Hospital Row ". All medical flights in Ontario are free to the patient, paid for by the Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan, as are all medical treatments and Doctor visits. We never get a bill for any medical care here in Ontario. We all pay into the plan through our personal income taxes and taxes on things like smokes, alcohol and gasoline. Even those on welfare pay in , when they buy the items I just mentioned above. Everyone gets the same level of care, regardless if they are a highly paid executive, or they live under a bridge. Equality. JimB.

 

[Michael Z]

3 hours on a gurney for a scheduled procedure? That’s crazy! They have some problems with how they do things I would say. I don’t think that is typical so you might see if another facility is possible.

I have waited over 3 hours in urgent care and emergency (in a waiting room) but that is to be expected. Those cases proceed on an urgency basis. Also helps to get to Urgent Care as soon as it opens.

 

[Remy]

It's a lot about money. Many procedures will be pushed if they think Medicare will pay for it. Biggest fault of Medicare is that it was set up to work on the honor system and in a contest between honor and greed, greed often wins.

Sadly you are right. I should say it's angry. My mother was put in ICU the last year of her life a couple of times. She didn't need ICU but in that hospital in a more rural community with Medicare and supplemental, you'd better believe it. Since I'm sure a lot of the clients were medical.

 

[Kaila]

@Remy
Nice to see you posting. Some of us had hoped you were doing alright recently, when you hadn't been seen as much.

 

[Kaila]

3 hours on a gurney for a scheduled procedure? That’s crazy! They have some problems with how they do things I would say. I don’t think that is typical so you might see if another facility is possible.

I agree. I had the same procedure recently, and while it was as difficult for me, in most ways, as it was for the OP, I was told to come in an hour before the pre-scheduled time, not 3. The prep was difficult, but mostly at home was better.

 

[Remy]

@Remy
Nice to see you posting. Some of us had hoped you were doing alright recently, when you hadn't been seen as much.

That's very kind of you to say. I'm doing OK.

 

[Jaiden]

The colonoscopy will be next since you said the word “intestine”. Personally I will do a endoscopy with no problem at all, I have stomach issues; but I refuse any more colonoscopies. I have intestinal issues and am afraid of the doctor making an error.

You and me both! The last time they scheduled a colonoscopy, I got so sick from the prep that they cancelled the test. Enough already!

 

[Jules]

You and me both! The last time they scheduled a colonoscopy, I got so sick from the prep that they cancelled the test. Enough already!

One of the annoying things is that they make everyone drink the same amount of that blasted drink. Doesn’t matter if you’re 100 or 300 pounds.

 

[jimintoronto]

One of the annoying things is that they make everyone drink the same amount of that blasted drink. Doesn’t matter if you’re 100 or 300 pounds.

Your body weight has little to do with the size of your colon. Just as body weight has little to do with the size of your hands. JImB.

 

[win231]

Your body weight has little to do with the size of your colon. Just as body weight has little to do with the size of your hands. JImB.

Just as the size of your feet has little to do with..........