Iain1028 Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Reading an interesting little diddy in this month's JAMA. Article about fancy areas of the hospital set up for cash paying, important, famous, or well to do customers, I mean patients. Does your hospital have this type of area? How do you feel about it? At St Joes in Phoenix, there are certain very nice rooms set up for these types of clients. I remember John McCain at Joes, you should have seen his room, it was like the Hilton. Personally, I find it offensive. Everyone should be treated the same in a hospital. Discuss..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted February 16, 2011 Administrator Share Posted February 16, 2011 If you don't like it, don't use or work at such a hospital. :-) The real tragedy, I'm afraid, is that most hospitals tend to use a DMV-like process. Why on earth, if a hospital is being paid two different prices (where one of those might be "none") for two patients with the same condition, should they receive the exact same treatment? If there is no difference in access, quality, or even perks like room, where is the motivation for a patient to seek a better insurance plan? If I were to propose one single legal change, I'd mandate "Most Favored" status for cash at time of service: Any patient who pays cash (or equivalent) should not be charged any more than the lowest negotiated reimbursement rate. I'm in favor of health care for all, just like I'm in favor of food, shelter, and clothing for all. That doesn't mean that everyone gets the same stuff, nor that it's anyone else's job to pay for mine, nor mine to pay for theirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_me Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 if you can pay for it....why not...like rev said theres no difference in care, just difference in scenery. to me its just like staying at a hotel...personaly I cant afford the really nice suite so I stay in the regular discount rooms but we all check in at the same place, have access to the same housekeeping and conceirge etc. some people turn thier nose up at the md that I work for because he's something like a boutique physician. he's not in network with any insurance companies (lthough if you have out of network benefits we will submit a claim to see if they reimburse patients anything) he sees about 5-6 patients 3 times a week and can spend 45 minutes with each as opposed to 15 minutes because he is being reimbursed for his time. he doesnt have to see 30 patients a day and none of his patients have to wait weeks to get an appointment. While some of us cannot afford this type of service, it doesnt mean that no one should have this type of service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 16, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 16, 2011 The facility where I did trauma surgery had this set up. very slick. not really appropriate in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SocialMedicine Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 If someone wants to pay extra for VIP medicine I am fine with that. In NYC alot of priv practices are charging extra fees for VIP service, email access, specialty rooms. For the moment this trend is not alarming. If it becomes more popular I could see access becoming an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 If we're going to have a health care system where access is based, for manh, on ability to pay.....then we should have no problem with wealthier patients getting better accommodations and services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 16, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 16, 2011 I'm ok with more money for nicer digs for elective procedures but for non-elective admissions everyone should be treated the same...the place I did trauma surg. they comped nice rooms for vip's...better room for price of nl room because they were a big shot....not cool at all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_me Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 still not sure I see a problem as long as the care is the same. let's say I and another lady go into labor at the same time--shes some big wig and I have united healthcare. She can afford a private room but UHC tells me I have to share or pay for a private room all on my own....doesnt make a bit of difference to me as long as the care is the same. let her have her private room....heck if I could afford it Id have my own The roblem I have is that it seems the more money people have...the more crap they get for free...why is that:saddd: I'm ok with more money for nicer digs for elective procedures but for non-elective admissions everyone should be treated the same...the place I did trauma surg. they comped nice rooms for vip's...better room for price of nl room because they were a big shot....not cool at all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I'm a fan of equal treatment for all patients... so I suppose that as long as the care is the same then everything else is just window dressing. If you can afford the fancy private room and you're willing to shell out the cash who's to say that's bad? It is certainly a revenue generator for the facility... But: at the same time, who's to say that the rich folks paying for the fancy room aren't getting a higher level of care? Things could get very sticky for the facility if it was discovered that the nursing ratios on the fancier units are lower than the "average" or regular floors! My grandmother used to say that a person should avoid the appearance of wrongdoing... Good advice, even for a hospital... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted February 16, 2011 Administrator Share Posted February 16, 2011 But: at the same time, who's to say that the rich folks paying for the fancy room aren't getting a higher level of care? If they're paying for a better level of care, what's the problem? Are you opposed to doulas in L&D? The entire profession is based on rich people paying more to import additional staff to cater to their needs. I suppose one could split hairs and say that doulas aren't really involved in medical care of the patient who's in labor, but I find that unconvincing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain1028 Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 So John McCain gets the nice room because he is famous and or rich? Still doesn't seem quite right? Agree with Evan, things could get sticky for a hospital. I mean the possibility is certainly there. On the other hand, if I was rich, I would proabably pay for the upgrade. It's like first class on a plane right? John McCain, should have been stuck in the regular room with a roommate. Let him see the real world, I say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted February 17, 2011 Administrator Share Posted February 17, 2011 If John McCain PAYS more for a better room, that's his right. If the hospital comps him a nice room because he's a senator, that's a potential quid pro quo that should be disclosed as a gift to a political figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2305 Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 His room in Hanoi wasn't too nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 If they're paying for a better level of care, what's the problem? Are you opposed to doulas in L&D? The entire profession is based on rich people paying more to import additional staff to cater to their needs. I suppose one could split hairs and say that doulas aren't really involved in medical care of the patient who's in labor, but I find that unconvincing. The problem I have is with the institution giving different levels of care based on socioeconomic status,fame, skin color, or whatever. I'm not talking about a few extra square feet of room space or nicer artwork on the walls or a better quality of carpet on the floor. I'm talking about giving folks better medicine, fewer RNs per pt, faster access to scans/procedures/etc, or bumping someone to the head of the line because they are on the preferred insurance network... What you do for one patient, you do for all patients. No matter if it is the lowliest homeless guy to a member of the hospital board to the president of the United States... Everybody gets the same level of competant care! But, no, the quality of the window treatments is the least of my concern... Doulas in L&D? That's a whole other discussion... In my experience they just get in the way of real healthcare providers so no I don't think they should be in there at all... but we can talk about that another time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain1028 Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 Look there are two criminal justice systems in America, one for the Rich, and one for the rest of us. So, why not two Medical systems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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