前两天开始的感冒有愈演愈烈之势头，嗓子和耳后干沙沙火辣辣地痛，全身酸疼酸疼的。上床去躺着，好不容易在枪林弹雨的声音中睡着了。第二天症状加重，决定去医院看看。
医生诊断我为扁桃腺和气管发炎引起发烧，要给开抗生素输液。因为听多了滥用抗生素方面的负面PR，而且没有耐性坐上老半天打吊针，向他申诉，未果，只好乖乖去挨扎。办完各种手续，被护士引导至输液大厅，进门一看，好大的大厅，怕不有百十张躺椅，起码有六七十人在那里输液，场面壮观。是这家医院的医生特别信赖该治疗手段呢，还是需要输液的人实在是多？大家都不象我这般急躁，大多既来之则安之的表情，拉出躺椅下的脚登，看去都舒舒服服的，倒象是晒日光浴的架式。
等从医院出来时已经三个半小时以后了，减去注射过程一小时，也得俩多钟头。在医生处拿着APPOINTMENT再坐等30到60分钟我是习惯的，排队我也不怕，可是有些手续应该可以精简合并，如果从病人而非医院自己方便的角度看问题。看我经过的流程：缴费，挂号，去内科。做抗生素皮下注射试验要先买药，于是再排队缴费，排另一个队取针药，去注射室排队做‘皮试’。20分钟后OK了，回二楼找医生开药，再排队缴费，再排另一个队取药，再去注射室排队打‘吊瓶’。幸好我不是重病号，这家医院也不特别忙，不然这份折腾也受不起啊。难怪看病得有人陪着 ― 帮忙排队是要紧的。
对了，打三天吊针用的针药近400人民币，治个扁桃腺发炎这么贵了，吓了我老大一跳。
就医记
1. The truth is that very often even the doctor doesn't know what to do with the patient, especially pediatric patient, when there is an ear infection or respiratory tract infection. Antibiotics don't work, and the patient gets better in about the same time period regardless of what you give him or her. It is scary and frustrating to admit this, and physicians obviously don't want to tell the concerned parents or patients that they don't have a solution, but it's reality.
2. There was absolutely no reason for CAVA to get i.v. of anything. Venipuncture is invasive and painful and increases the risk of serious blood infection, especially in a hospital full of sick people. She was not dehydrated and was in no immediate need for either drugs or fluid. If she were dehydrated because of fever or vomiting, she could drink fluid on her own.
3. It is natural for people to want to "do something" in the face of illness. And injections seem more reassuring than taking pills because it is more painful and "drastic" to get injections. But all this is pure psychological placebo effects. Injections, especially direct injection into blood vessels, carry way too much risk and should not be used unnecessarily.
Maomitou, did your baby have RSV? I don't know how much the "magic drug" they finally gave actually helped. It could very well be that it didn't do much. Nevertheless, I understand the frustration of a parent in watching a sick baby.
Is health care a right or a privilege? Is it a service or a necessity? The system of health care insurance has desensitized people's concept of the cost of providing health care services. How much does it really cost for a physician to treat a patient? How much does it cost to manufacture and sell a prescription drug? How much does it cost to build and run a hospital and keep the lights on? How much does it cost to save up the $$$ when lawyers sue a physician or a hospital?
Instead of paying the actual amount of money for a service and all the costs associated, we and our employers now pay premiums to insurance companies, who in turn pays hospitals and physicians when care is given. Healthy people pay more than they use, while old and sick people use more than they pay. We don't see this clearly because the mechinery is run behind the scene.
Why are physicians overbooked? Well, if they don't see, say, 60 patients a day, their business cannot break even, because they have to pay the nursing and administrative staff and the clinic space and electricity and the equipment etc. However, there is no guarantee that each of these 60 patients has the same severity of illness. Some require more attention and longer time, but there is no better system to adequately compensate the various people involved in the entire health care process.
True, the health care system, be it market and consumer-driven (e.g., U.S., China) or government-run (e.g., Canada, Europe), is not the most efficient and fair system we can have, but inefficiency and unfairness are ingrained in human existence everywhere.
2. There was absolutely no reason for CAVA to get i.v. of anything. Venipuncture is invasive and painful and increases the risk of serious blood infection, especially in a hospital full of sick people. She was not dehydrated and was in no immediate need for either drugs or fluid. If she were dehydrated because of fever or vomiting, she could drink fluid on her own.
3. It is natural for people to want to "do something" in the face of illness. And injections seem more reassuring than taking pills because it is more painful and "drastic" to get injections. But all this is pure psychological placebo effects. Injections, especially direct injection into blood vessels, carry way too much risk and should not be used unnecessarily.
CAVA obviously had influenza. She really didn't need any antibiotics, and nothing but her own immune system could have cured it. She could have taken something for symptom relief, but the rest did nothing material.嗓子和耳后干沙沙火辣辣地痛，全身酸疼酸疼的。
Maomitou, did your baby have RSV? I don't know how much the "magic drug" they finally gave actually helped. It could very well be that it didn't do much. Nevertheless, I understand the frustration of a parent in watching a sick baby.
Is health care a right or a privilege? Is it a service or a necessity? The system of health care insurance has desensitized people's concept of the cost of providing health care services. How much does it really cost for a physician to treat a patient? How much does it cost to manufacture and sell a prescription drug? How much does it cost to build and run a hospital and keep the lights on? How much does it cost to save up the $$$ when lawyers sue a physician or a hospital?
Instead of paying the actual amount of money for a service and all the costs associated, we and our employers now pay premiums to insurance companies, who in turn pays hospitals and physicians when care is given. Healthy people pay more than they use, while old and sick people use more than they pay. We don't see this clearly because the mechinery is run behind the scene.
Why are physicians overbooked? Well, if they don't see, say, 60 patients a day, their business cannot break even, because they have to pay the nursing and administrative staff and the clinic space and electricity and the equipment etc. However, there is no guarantee that each of these 60 patients has the same severity of illness. Some require more attention and longer time, but there is no better system to adequately compensate the various people involved in the entire health care process.
True, the health care system, be it market and consumer-driven (e.g., U.S., China) or government-run (e.g., Canada, Europe), is not the most efficient and fair system we can have, but inefficiency and unfairness are ingrained in human existence everywhere.
1.
Even when offered with sincerecy, that line is still patronizing and irritating.
Nevertheless, you are saying that to belittle my judgement. Shall pediatric practice only accept inside-reviews? Since their customer are either underaged or parents so "understandably frustrated".
No funny.
2. Whether health care is a right or a privilege is a question for the legislation. But as long as there is a line of work called medical practice, and many a peoples is making a living in it, shall we not expect dedication and service from them?
Imagine: when you go to a car workshop
U: The engene has a funny noise since yeasterday. I think I better ask you to check it out.
Machenic: OH, that could be a number of things or that could be nothing. We generally don't check for anything at this stage.
U: What if something is wrong, what if my car broke down on the highway.
Mechanic: Oh, then you can toll your car here then we will know which part broke down. You have insurance, right? Most insurance offer free tolling for you.
U: Shall I just drive till an accident happens?
Mechanic: Oh, we intalled an state-of the art airbag in your model. So nothing should be lethal.
U: But I am here, and I am telling you the warning sign, aren't you going to lift the hood and take a look?
mechanic: NO. We don't do examinations at this stage.
U: WHY?!
Mechanic: Once I examined, I need to tell you what might be wrong or nothing is wrong, and I have to take responsibility of my diagnosis. That is very dangerous.
U: for you.
Mechanic: For you too. What if I missdiagnozed and tell you everything is fine when something is seriously wrong? It is better if you remain puzzled and alert, make no long distance plans with your car, and toll it back to us as soon as it dies down.
3. "To err is human", yes and "to forgave is god" .
Gee, don't you have a better line for the defendent?
Ha, ha. No, you don't.Nevertheless, I understand the frustration of a parent in watching a sick baby.
Even when offered with sincerecy, that line is still patronizing and irritating.
Nevertheless, you are saying that to belittle my judgement. Shall pediatric practice only accept inside-reviews? Since their customer are either underaged or parents so "understandably frustrated".
No funny.
2. Whether health care is a right or a privilege is a question for the legislation. But as long as there is a line of work called medical practice, and many a peoples is making a living in it, shall we not expect dedication and service from them?
Imagine: when you go to a car workshop
U: The engene has a funny noise since yeasterday. I think I better ask you to check it out.
Machenic: OH, that could be a number of things or that could be nothing. We generally don't check for anything at this stage.
U: What if something is wrong, what if my car broke down on the highway.
Mechanic: Oh, then you can toll your car here then we will know which part broke down. You have insurance, right? Most insurance offer free tolling for you.
U: Shall I just drive till an accident happens?
Mechanic: Oh, we intalled an state-of the art airbag in your model. So nothing should be lethal.
U: But I am here, and I am telling you the warning sign, aren't you going to lift the hood and take a look?
mechanic: NO. We don't do examinations at this stage.
U: WHY?!
Mechanic: Once I examined, I need to tell you what might be wrong or nothing is wrong, and I have to take responsibility of my diagnosis. That is very dangerous.
U: for you.
Mechanic: For you too. What if I missdiagnozed and tell you everything is fine when something is seriously wrong? It is better if you remain puzzled and alert, make no long distance plans with your car, and toll it back to us as soon as it dies down.
3. "To err is human", yes and "to forgave is god" .
Gee, don't you have a better line for the defendent?
MMT
I'm not trying to make excuses for medicine. I'm just saying that the fact of the matter is that often physicians and medicine simply can't do anything more than providing psychological but not physiological relief for patients and their family members. It's not a great thing to admit, but it's true. Not that they are not willing to help. In fact most health care professionals are more compassionate than your mechanics or postal workers. But they can't cure RSV and they can't cure ear infections. I'm sorry but that's just the reality. Studies repeatedly show that giving children with ear infection amoxicillin is as effective as giving them no antibiotics at all. I'm not making this up. It's neither intentional neglect or willful money gouging. We just have no effective treatment.
The funny thing is, the profession of medicine has existed for thousands of years, but truly effective treatments for some illnesses have been few and far between for all that time. Throughout most of human history, the medicine men usually made patients sicker by their intervention rather than helping them (e.g., blood-letting). If a patient gets better, that's usually due to the body's natural tendency to get better.
We are in the habit of believing that doctors can take care of our aches and pains and tumors and ailments, but even today most diseases cannot be cured or even relieved.
I have many irritations with the way things are in health care within the context of the society. The problem is that medicine does not exist in a vaccuum, but is closely connected with all the deficiencies of other components of the society. That's why whenever it comes to this topic, I tend to run off with my own pet peeves. Most of my previous comments were not meant to be even related to Maomitou's particular case. I apologize for sounding cruel or indifferent.
As for health care in China, I have heard too many horror stories. It is appauling and the worst scenario that can result from total commercialization of health care.
No I was not. That was not my intention at all.you are saying that to belittle my judgement.
The funny thing is, the profession of medicine has existed for thousands of years, but truly effective treatments for some illnesses have been few and far between for all that time. Throughout most of human history, the medicine men usually made patients sicker by their intervention rather than helping them (e.g., blood-letting). If a patient gets better, that's usually due to the body's natural tendency to get better.
We are in the habit of believing that doctors can take care of our aches and pains and tumors and ailments, but even today most diseases cannot be cured or even relieved.
I have many irritations with the way things are in health care within the context of the society. The problem is that medicine does not exist in a vaccuum, but is closely connected with all the deficiencies of other components of the society. That's why whenever it comes to this topic, I tend to run off with my own pet peeves. Most of my previous comments were not meant to be even related to Maomitou's particular case. I apologize for sounding cruel or indifferent.
As for health care in China, I have heard too many horror stories. It is appauling and the worst scenario that can result from total commercialization of health care.
-
helenClaire
- Posts: 3159
- Joined: 2003-11-22 20:12
安慰一下CAVA。
再无力地安慰一下猫咪头。Frustration都是小事,孩子吃了不必要的苦头才真正令人愤慨。你前面的帖子改了，我没看到具体过程。把修车铺的对话翻译回去的话，难道你们已经在诊所里了，医生也没有给孩子听听肺音，看看耳朵和做个喉咙细菌培养什么的？就是"Hello, goodbye. Send her to ER if she gets worse"?这不是他们第一次延误孩子病情了吧？
我建议猫咪头考虑换一家诊所。挑选的时候多依靠亲友同事的推荐，affiliated hospital最好是个儿童医院或有儿科强项的医院--这样可以保证off-hour的质量。我乌鸦嘴一下，这个时节去诊所或医院，去的时候看一个病，然后染三个病回来。最好带上anti-baterial santinizer gel, et al. And don't touch anything. 特别注意观察孩子的呼吸，如果发生哮喘症状的话，一刻也不能耽搁送医院。家里最好能备上nebulizer.
剩下就是老生常谈的，世界上最好的儿科大夫也不能比父母更知道自己孩子的状态正常不正常，一定要态度坚决，要求他们做测试。也可以要求他们先开了抗生素处方带着，一但culture结果出来是细菌感染，可以马上取药。
再无力地安慰一下猫咪头。Frustration都是小事,孩子吃了不必要的苦头才真正令人愤慨。你前面的帖子改了，我没看到具体过程。把修车铺的对话翻译回去的话，难道你们已经在诊所里了，医生也没有给孩子听听肺音，看看耳朵和做个喉咙细菌培养什么的？就是"Hello, goodbye. Send her to ER if she gets worse"?这不是他们第一次延误孩子病情了吧？
我建议猫咪头考虑换一家诊所。挑选的时候多依靠亲友同事的推荐，affiliated hospital最好是个儿童医院或有儿科强项的医院--这样可以保证off-hour的质量。我乌鸦嘴一下，这个时节去诊所或医院，去的时候看一个病，然后染三个病回来。最好带上anti-baterial santinizer gel, et al. And don't touch anything. 特别注意观察孩子的呼吸，如果发生哮喘症状的话，一刻也不能耽搁送医院。家里最好能备上nebulizer.
剩下就是老生常谈的，世界上最好的儿科大夫也不能比父母更知道自己孩子的状态正常不正常，一定要态度坚决，要求他们做测试。也可以要求他们先开了抗生素处方带着，一但culture结果出来是细菌感染，可以马上取药。