Healthcare: Multiple dimensions

My friends locally and abroad were surprised that I spent 41 days in the hospital. There is an unfortunate belief that a prolonged stay would have negative effects on one’s health due to re-infection. In my opinion, the extraordinary care accorded the patient by well-trained registered nurses, male and female, as well as those who took care of our personal care needs, make the difference. We always assume it is only the doctors that cure us. We forget that more time is spent by these unsung heroes tending to our minute-by-minute needs to whom I would like to express my profound gratitude and admiration. These would be RK (humblest of all), Jon, Lek, Liz, Tiffany, GeeAnne, Ana, Darren, Mitch, Sharlee, Jane, Bern, and my two physical therapists/tormentors, Jun and Jeca.

My two lead doctors, my pulmonologist of more than 10 years and my internist specializing in infectious diseases, provided superior medical professionalism. I hasten to add that 11 specialists also supported the lead team.

Questionable billing practice

I just paid a hefty bill for the services of my doctors. No complaints. However, relative to my lead doctors’ fees, I find the fees of the physical rehabilitation department to be exorbitant. I question the added value to my case particularly because my physical therapist had been working with me for almost a year.

Fortunately, I am covered by insurance. I found it odd that when my assistant was delivering the insurance claim forms to the doctors’ offices, one doctor would be charging a fee of three thousand to answer the insurance form, which my assistant was told can also be charged to insurance. But that is beside the point.

Imperatives of modern technology

My doctors informed me that I arrived in the hospital in critical condition. I would not have survived if not for the availability of this new machine called High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC). I was originally scheduled to have a CT angiogram procedure before my departure. Depending on the result, another cardiac procedure may still be required. Regrettably, the machine needed for CT angiogram had been out of order for some time. In sum, I was discharged from the hospital without a prognosis of my illness. Ironically, the hospital had the latest in technology (HFNC) but failed to have a redundant (back-up) policy for a very ordinary commonly-used machine. The hospital board must revisit their outdated and condemnable policy.

Today, twelve days after my discharge, the machine is still out of order and I have not been informed when I will be scheduled for my urgently needed procedure. – Roberto R. Romulo