What Is Missing?

Viswamitra · May 26, 2017

sindmani said: ↑

In India we have great medical facility but it doesn't reach poor or middle class. Health insurance claims so and so benefits. But not very reliable. I know a cancer patient was not reimbursed any remuneration from health insurance. I have seen patients who are cured after being admitted in ICU has been kept as inpatient to extract little more money( best hospital).But stating all all this , there are good doctors in India too who has service in their mind first and payment 2nd. Here USA has got good insurance scheme .My student in Bangalore, was diagnosed with brain AVM( complicated), when admitted in a best hospital in Bangalore. Even after the surgery , first they said ,now the patient is normal. After 6 months, they are saying operation has to be done again. Ok fine, it is a tough operation . atleast they could have little empathy when they told this. The mother told , they were talking like a repair of a machine .
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@sindmani,

Every healthcare system has positives and negatives. Anyone from South America can land in the US soil and faint in the wheel chair, he or she needs to be taken to the hospital for treatment whether he or she has insurance coverage or not. Because emergency room must be available to anyone whether they can pay or not. It is law. While it sounds courteous and considerate, when many intentionally do just that to get better medical attention, tax payers bear that cost. When we see patients retained more than required in the hospitals back in India, we see people discharged out of the hospital prematurely with a lot of pain. We get quick access back in India but here in the US getting an appointment with specialist takes time. I waited two months to meet a spine surgeon last week. If I had unbearable pain, only thing I could do is to go to the emergency to have a spine surgeon see me.

Every system has pluses and minuses.

Viswa

poovai · May 26, 2017

Viswa sir,

I hope, your wife is recovering well.

I had a similar experience during diagnostic mammogram procedure. It is the 2nd step after regular yearly, mammogram. The diagnostic mammogram takes 2-3 hours, going through the process of x-rays, radiologist seeing the x-ray, followed by ultrasound, again waiting for radiologist review and their recommendation to do biopsy/digital mammogram or a waiting period of another 6-months. Some women are prone to have cysts, more than others. I had to go through the procedure 3-times within last 10-year period. Even though, we are treated well/ taken care of by the wonderful technicians at the hospital, we were (6-8 women) assembled in the waiting room going through various phases of the procedure. In general, new comers will be closer to tears waiting for test results. More experienced women will be silent reading a magazine, checking phone, watching TV, etc - overall, everyone will be nervous and silent.

Statistically 1 in 8 women are prone to breast cancer, 4-6% of women will be treated within 10 years who had gone through similar diagnostic procedure. Another study shows that mammogram is not really necessary, waste of time/money/energy and it is not that easy to predict cancer from x-rays. General statistics may not apply to Indians, right? Wrong, 2- Indian women around me, in my circle died of breast cancer in last 10 years.

I really wonder, is it necessary to go through the procedure? My mom/grandma didn't have any such grueling procedure. Any way, I will put up with the procedure for now, until my son get settled in life.

Viswamitra · May 26, 2017

@poovai,

Medical studies are dime a dozen with different results unconnected to each other. It is difficult to rely upon those studies and statistics. The best indicator is look back into your family. If all women in your family in the previous generation led a healthy life, you have nothing to worry. If not, take precautions.

Let the Lord bless you with long life to see your son get married and spend time with your grandchildren. Put a very strong will into your subconscious mind to lead a long life with several goals and you will do just that.

Viswa

knbg · May 26, 2017

Dear Viswa sir,
Best regards.
Hope maam is fully recovered now..
I think, it's the expectation about surgery which we have been conditioned... Seriousness, family and friends support and fussing over with pujas,prasadams, home cooked food, hospital stay..., now a days the frequent cellphone calls...etc that was missing... That reduced the totality of the experience...

satchitananda · May 26, 2017

Dear Viswa, I have been wondering what could be missing. I mean the treatment is good, the doctor obviously relates personally to you, given the fact that he remembers when he last treated you etc. After all this while, the only thought that comes to me is that you probably miss the human touch. Everything is perfect, the doc and staff are very kind and polite. What is missing is probably the time to sit down and chat about the weather, politics and everything under the sun - the informal, relaxed feeling when you visit the clinic. It sounds like a very well-oiled conveyor belt.

Viswamitra · May 26, 2017

Dear Bhargavi,

My wife is healing well. You are right. Perhaps, I am not used to cell-phone charger type of approach to the surgery. Pre-op preparation, admission into the hospital, post-op recovery room, patient visit, hospital diet, etc. may be missing in my head.

When I see the flight-attendants, I also get the same feeling whether can they handle emergency? But, when they do the demo of Oxygen mask, exit direction, etc., it gives a glimpse of what they are capable of. But here the staff are smiling but are working like people in the production facility.

Viswa

Viswamitra · May 26, 2017

Dear Satchi,

Thank you for your excellent feedback. You spelled it our clearly. I was saying the same thing differently. They may face a fatigue if they work like a machine everyday not able to see the different between normal vs emergency. I also noticed that mostly what precautions need to be taken and in what situation we should report immediately is generally said verbally in person post-surgery by medical attendant in most places whereas here they have given a written note to the patient who was recovering from anesthesia.

May be I am wrong and they may have some down time. Perhaps, that is why they have surgery only on Mon-Wed leaving Thu & Fri to relax and recover from fatigue.

Viswa