Much of the health care reform debate has centered around insurance carriers, prescription drug benefits and even tort reform. One important aspect of the health care system in this country, though, has been left out of the discussion: Health care delivery. This issue is at least important as all of the aforementioned topics and is arguably part of them, as well. It seems obvious that even the most advanced health care in the world is virtually worthless if there is no workable system with which to deliver it to those who need it. I believe that our current system is broken, and badly in need of reform.
A current family crisis is illustrative of this problem. My husband's 92-year-old father, G., was recently admitted to a South Florida hospital near where he lives. A helpful neighbor saw him trying to drive himself to the emergency room and sent him back to his house where she called an ambulance for him. If not for this good Samaritan and a phone call my father-in-law placed to my husband's sister that morning before setting off in his car, his three children would not have even known that he had been hospitalized. He had not been feeling well for two or more weeks, but did not check in with his doctor. Perhaps he believes, like many Americans, that the emergency room is the best method to get care in a timely manner.
The neighbor, despite being the person who called the ambulance and followed it to the hospital, was not allowed to see G. until evening. She called my husband with the phone number of the hospital, and its name; no one from that facility contacted any of G.'s children, however. When they called the hospital, they were handed off to several people, none of whom would give them any information on G. Finally, my husband was able to speak with his father, who had minimal knowledge of what was going on. He was being told nothing, as well.
My husband remembered the name of one of G.'s doctors and we found his office number on the hospital's website. He did return the call, but was very reluctant to give any real information other that they needed to run "tests" to find out what the problem was. Today, I spoke with my sister-in-law who was understandably livid to hear that they were planning to give G. a colonoscopy! How can a 92-year-old with no information on his condition and separated from his family give informed consent?
In a state that should cater to the health needs of seniors more than any other, this is obviously the norm. Did anyone think to ask this man if there were family members that should be contacted? Apparently not. Are they aware that he had a life-threatening reaction to anesthesia two years ago? If they are, they are ignoring this fact. It appears that hospitals have become Medicare-bilking machines, running test after useless test on isolated seniors without involving their family members in any treatment decisions.
When I spoke to my sister-in-law earlier today, she said she saw a news program just last night on this subject. Elderly are being tested for every problem known to man, when mostly what they need is communication between themselves and their health care practitioners. This poor man has been in this hospital for nearly a week now, with no answers or results. Could this really be what all those "town meeting" anti-reformers are trying to preserve?
A current family crisis is illustrative of this problem. My husband's 92-year-old father, G., was recently admitted to a South Florida hospital near where he lives. A helpful neighbor saw him trying to drive himself to the emergency room and sent him back to his house where she called an ambulance for him. If not for this good Samaritan and a phone call my father-in-law placed to my husband's sister that morning before setting off in his car, his three children would not have even known that he had been hospitalized. He had not been feeling well for two or more weeks, but did not check in with his doctor. Perhaps he believes, like many Americans, that the emergency room is the best method to get care in a timely manner.
The neighbor, despite being the person who called the ambulance and followed it to the hospital, was not allowed to see G. until evening. She called my husband with the phone number of the hospital, and its name; no one from that facility contacted any of G.'s children, however. When they called the hospital, they were handed off to several people, none of whom would give them any information on G. Finally, my husband was able to speak with his father, who had minimal knowledge of what was going on. He was being told nothing, as well.
My husband remembered the name of one of G.'s doctors and we found his office number on the hospital's website. He did return the call, but was very reluctant to give any real information other that they needed to run "tests" to find out what the problem was. Today, I spoke with my sister-in-law who was understandably livid to hear that they were planning to give G. a colonoscopy! How can a 92-year-old with no information on his condition and separated from his family give informed consent?
In a state that should cater to the health needs of seniors more than any other, this is obviously the norm. Did anyone think to ask this man if there were family members that should be contacted? Apparently not. Are they aware that he had a life-threatening reaction to anesthesia two years ago? If they are, they are ignoring this fact. It appears that hospitals have become Medicare-bilking machines, running test after useless test on isolated seniors without involving their family members in any treatment decisions.
When I spoke to my sister-in-law earlier today, she said she saw a news program just last night on this subject. Elderly are being tested for every problem known to man, when mostly what they need is communication between themselves and their health care practitioners. This poor man has been in this hospital for nearly a week now, with no answers or results. Could this really be what all those "town meeting" anti-reformers are trying to preserve?
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