Seema had a health issue. Since her condition did not improve even after a few days, she thought about consulting a doctor and went ahead and booked an appointment with Dr A at hospital B.
When her friends got to know about her plan to visit the hospital, they dissuaded her from going to that particular place.
"Why do you want to go to a hospital you have never been to?" her friends asked her. "Moreover, hospital B looks good and posh because they fleece their patients."
"Why go there when you have good doctors in hospital C? Go there and meet Dr D. He is really good. They don't unnecessarily prescribe medicines and tests," Seema's friends suggested.
Seema had opted for hospital B, a relatively new one, mainly because it was easier for her to reach.
Earlier, she had always gone to more well-known hospitals, like C which her friends suggested, that were far away; and the commute was difficult due to heavy traffic.
Hospital B is closer to Seema's home, so she thought of giving it a try, even though she hadn't heard great reviews about it.
Her friends' counsel confused her, but she decided to stick to her choice.
On the scheduled day, she went to hospital B and met doctor A.
Everything went off smoothly.
She found the doctor very receptive. He explained to her the underlying medical reasons for her condition, and why she should undergo a couple of blood tests. He came up with a diagnosis and prescribed a few medicines.
She returned home in a cheerful frame of mind. In fact, she felt okay even before taking the medicines!
MORAL OF THE STORY
- Never be influenced by others' views about hospitals and doctors.
- Take your own decision and stick to it.
- Have trust and faith in hospitals and doctors. If you don't have trust, don't go.
A hospital review is not like a movie review, because going to a hospital is not like going for a movie. One is about health and life; the other is about entertainment.
IT'S ALL ABOUT FAITH
An experience with doctors is as much about trust in them as it is about their professional qualifications and skills.
Each person's experience with a hospital or a doctor is unique. Just because you did not like a particular hospital or doctor, it does not mean that will be the experience for everyone else too.
So, do not dissuade or discourage another person from visiting any hospital or meeting any doctor. You might unwittingly end up preventing them from getting their illness cured.
Conversely, if you had a good experience with a hospital or a doctor, be cautious when you make a recommendation. Others shouldn't end up having a bad experience and blaming it on you.
YOUR VIEWS
If someone asks your opinion about a hospital or doctor:
- Make it very clear that it is your personal opinion and warn them not to be influenced by your views.
- Don't make judgements on medical matters. We are no one to determine if a blood test or an x-ray was required or not. That is the job of a medical professional.
FINALLY
- When it comes to health, always look for factual information rather than opinions. Listen to others' views, but take your own decision.
- Approach health professionals with an open mind. If you trust and believe in a doctor, treatment becomes that much easier.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteBravo, well said! As a (now retired) health professional I can state how difficult it could be to treat folk who came with pre-determined ideas of what to expect... worse yet, had consulted Dr Google first!!! YAM xx
A very balanced view. I agree.
ReplyDeleteBut some private hospitals are very expensive and may not be affordable for all for longer stay. It is again the patient who must make the decision.
But there are hospitals with required facilities and they do a better job obviously.
ReplyDeleteHi Tomi - The basic problem is what is "better" is a very subjective.
DeleteI mean... There's a hospital around here that has the nickname Killer King. I don't know if I'd willingly go to a hospital with that nickname.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know the local hospitals here have a good reputation and a new one is scheduled for construction, set to begin shortly. I wouldn’t know how to begin to evaluate hospitals and their surgeons and other staff. I have been fortunate, having been hospitalized very little in my life, and I have always felt that I have been treated fairly, well, respectfully and with care and compassion.
ReplyDeleteI am quite receptive to other peoples experiences with most things, including hospitals and doctors. I see it as gathering information before making a decision or choice.
ReplyDeleteJust because someone has a problem with a doctor or hospital doesn't mean everyone will have a problem with them. At my doctors surgery there is one doctor I call Dr. Dickhead but other people like him
ReplyDeleteLife can be cruel. And insurance companies are a prime example. Be well!
ReplyDeleteHi Darla - Oh yes, dealing with health insurance companies can be very challenging. Generally, here they operate in two ways.
DeleteThe first is through empanelled hospitals, where you receive 'cashless treatment' and the bills are settled directly by the insurance firm.
The second is when you visit a non-empanelled hospital. In this case, you must pay the bills upfront post-treatment and subsequently submit them to the insurance company for reimbursement.
The real challenge lies in the timeline for reimbursement. They often spend weeks or even months seeking an endless stream of clarifications, sometimes withholding payment for the most trivial reasons.
Once, I had to exchange emails with the insurance company for over two years before finally getting my money back.
Two years is a very long time for such a thing. Wow! I'm glad you finally received repayment.
DeleteI'm always interested in hearing recommendations from others - but I'll make my final decision based on what my own doctor tells me, what I've heard from others, and any reviews I can find....then a consultation is a good starting point and from there I can make up my mind taking everything into account.
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice through your blog post. People may be some individual opinion about certain hospitals/doctors. They think that is the universal opinion.
ReplyDeleteMost hospitals here in Montreal thankfully have a good reputation, but we can always learn something new. Thank you so much for sharing, Pradeep.
ReplyDeleteFantastic blog and much needed also.I hope you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteVery well said. People take one size fits all advise on crucial health matters, that eventually ends in blame game. Proximity of health care centre is primary esp when it comes to pregnancy and senior citizen health concerns.
ReplyDelete