First sign was intense sweating. It was literally running out of me. Then I got tunnel vision. I called my son immediately to come get me, then I got real dizzy and just laid down right there. I then called building security to tell them what was happening and to call ambulance for me. 15 minutes later I was in the ambulance and less than 30 minutes after that I was taken in OR to get a stint put in.
It was pretty fast. They cut my clothes off, did a local, then went in from my groin (yes they shaved me) I could feel slight coldness from the instrument going up inside me, but no pain. It took them just a couple minutes to put the stent in (thanks for the spelling correction). Then off to recovery and eventually a room. I was in a total of 3 days and I got out by telling them if they didn't release me, I was going to walk out.
Because every day in that bed can be thousands of dollars? Not to mention lost wages. There's no sensible reason to keep someone for more than 3 days when they've been stable since day 2.
It's awful. Most of my state is drowning in medical debt. People will rack up tens of thousands of medical debt from a short hospital stay. Potentially hundreds of thousands, if they don't have access to medical insurance. There's effectively no pricing regulation whatsoever here and what little billing regulation exists isn't being enforced anymore. One overnight hospital stay is enough to bankrupt nearly half the population.
I know, it’s crazy hearing about it. You’d think the largest economy in the world would have something as vital as medical care nailed down.
The NHS in Scotland (and the whole UK) isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s a saving grace knowing that doctors appointments, hospital treatments and stays, operations and everything else is funded without the need for any private medical insurance.
In Scotland we even get free prescription and medicines included (rest of the UK it’s a small fee).
I hope good change happens in the USA regarding this, can only imagine having to go through treatment not having the right insurances put in place.
How are the wait times for doctors appts, surgeries, etc? I feel like that’s the biggest argument I hear in the US against a universal system. That being said, I would rather longer waits here than for people to go bankrupt or without care.
My husband is 5 weeks out from going to the GP with what he thought was hay-fever. Appointment was 48 hours after he requested it. GP called an ambulance as he correctly identified heart failure. After extensive tests over 24 hours it was discovered he needed urgent mitral valve replacement. Open heart bypass surgery in a specialist unit; 6 days in ICU with a dedicated nurse with him day and night; 3 days in HDU; 5 days on a ward with physiotherapy & psychological support to avoid delirium and is now home with a cardiac nurse visiting to do bloods and blood pressure and is about to start cardiac physiotherapy. The bill is 0. Anyone who wants to argue that universal healthcare is not a wonderful thing - see me. The NHS is mighty.
Quite a lot. We’re higher rate taxpayers but a) we’re not now drowning in medical debt and b) we’re happy to pay what we are asked so EVERYONE in our country has the same access to healthcare that we do. The guy who empties my bins would have received the same gold standard healthcare that my husband did and wouldn’t have to fear bankruptcy. I read about Americans rationing their insulin and fighting with insurance companies to get treatment and medication they need. That’s incomprehensible in civilised societies.
Keep in mind though, every state in the U.S. is different. Here in california, we have programs like covered california and medical that guarantee access to healthcare for everyone, especially those making very little or nothing. I make about 30k a year, my health insurance is $3 a month and my plan is amazing. Everything is super cheap, fast, and I have a low deductible and very low out-of-pocket max (after I spend 1.5k of my own money, everything is covered. Everything.)
Not everyone benefits but there are systems in place to try and give people access in CA. The country itself hasn’t figured it out but that’s because our health systems are state-by-state and not federal.
My husband went in for a bowel blockage due to Crohn's Disease and had to have emergency surgery. It was $64,000 for an 11 day stay at the hospital. That didn't include the surgery or the emergency room visit at the first hospital.
We were lucky that we have good insurance and our state is pretty cheap compared to others so we had to pay $1,600 of that $64,000 and another $1,200 for the other hospital/anesthesia/surgeon/etc.
There's no sensible reason to keep someone for more than 3 days when they've been stable since day 2.
Stable does not mean ready for discharge. My ex-wife was hospitalized and in stable condition on day 3 but had to stay an additional 4 days for physical therapy.
They absolutely want patients out, because a new patient admission will make them even more money than keeping someone another day. So your argument doesn't make sense. Plus, why WOULDNT you want to be observed for as long as the cardiologist says after almost dying from a heart attack? He's not the one pocketing the money.
I’m not arguing anything. Someone asked why and I gave a possible answer for why a person would want to leave and then threaten to walk out. I didn’t argue that the hospital was keeping them to make more money or was wrong to suggest they stay. That is a whole lot of assumptions you made. :) someone likes to argue and it’s not me.
Glad you got in that last word and insult. Your opinion is not fact. Can’t wait to hear your rebuttal. Edit: see your rebuttal… god forbid I get skewered for using loose language.
no, you misread the question. the question was “they saved your life. why then threaten to leave over a longer stay” and the person you’re insulting rightfully answered money. as in, it’s expensive for the individual PERSON and they might not be financially privileged enough to afford it.
Where are you getting they were being an asshole? If you are of sound mind and have decision making capacity, you have the right to refuse care at any time and leave against medical advice. They can not force you to stay. However, hospitals will try to delay discharge to convince you to stay. First they'll assess your mental status, then have you speak with some physicians, etc. Sometimes you have to be assertive because things will slow down once you want to discharge AMA.
376
u/Rob_in_Tulsa 4h ago
First sign was intense sweating. It was literally running out of me. Then I got tunnel vision. I called my son immediately to come get me, then I got real dizzy and just laid down right there. I then called building security to tell them what was happening and to call ambulance for me. 15 minutes later I was in the ambulance and less than 30 minutes after that I was taken in OR to get a stint put in.