Discussions

Of the private healthcare scenario in the States and it’s pretty scary. Aside from the excellent care I received, everywhere you turn there’s a dollar sign. First they won’t even give you the time of day without proof that payment is imminent. Be it insurance or some sort of financing that will provide the payment. Every dept. has little pamphlets explaining afore mentioned. Every day personnel enter your room with scanners to note equipment used such as IV’s and fluids, oxygen, toothpaste, bedpans, urinals, well you get the picture. If you weren’t in there for a heart attack I can see the constant reminder, the care is costing you, would result in one. No complaints what so ever regarding the nursing staff, but the cost everything they do for you is brought home by the ping, ping of the scanner! And the nursing staff is well aware of it and often referred to our system as an advantage, but also noted the shortage of doctors and nurses in Canada. So although we had a “non user pay system” over all the accessibility was severely lacking and my being there for treatment was a case in point.