I now know WHY healthcare is so screwed in this country - rant to follow

[Donnachaidh]

I just tried to call my brother who is at a hospital on NYC, for chest pain. He evidently cannot turn his cell phone on in the hospital. And I cannot get in touch with him unless I agree to pay a TEN DOLLAR A DAY phone charge!

WTF????? I have never -- NEVER -- had any hospital charge me any sort of FEE for having a phone in my room so relatives from out of town can call me!!!

Excuse me??? For the amount of money these frigging hospitals charge just to lay in their damned beds they should not only provide a phone - they should provide a BODY to answer the damned thing for you!

I have to go punch something I'm so fed up. I had to hang up, because I really just wanted to start cursing EVERYONE out.

UNbelievable!

[pnwmom]

1. I wonder if he's in an area where pacemakers might be affected by using cell phones.

It does sound crazy; I've never been asked in a hospital to pay to accept phone calls either.

[StarryNite]

3. That wouldn't make sense

because they will allow it $10.00.

[pnwmom]

10. Land lines don't interfere with electronic equipment, so it's not the same. n/t

[Donnachaidh]

4. that's probably why the cells are banned -- but to then CHARGE for a landline?

And the cow I had to talk to said they have charged that for 25 years? Uhh no dear, they have NOT. I ought to know, I get to call them at least once a year.

[pnwmom]

11. I know, that's awful. n/t

[Chisox08]

14. Last time I was in the hospital it cost $10 for the phone and $8

a day for the TV an Advil cost me $5 for on pill.

[w8liftinglady]

16. I have a pacemaker and use a cell phone...

and work in a hospital that is wifi compatible.That is INSANE.Our patients can not call long distance,but they can receive calls.We normally call the patient's out of state relatives and give them the room number,so they can talk....and if there is a financial issue,we transfer the call to the room on our dime(don't tell my bosses that,though)
what a bunch of douchebags.

[progressoid]

17. Cell phones have no affect on hospital equipment.

Mayo Clinic study: http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-rst/3958.html

Nor are they a particular problem for pacemakers: http://www.texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/Proced/pacemake.cfm

[pnwmom]

26. Presumably they did the study because they were concerned.

Maybe the didn't accept the conclusions of the study -- or maybe they're just trying to make some money.

[StarryNite]

2. WTF?!

That is ridiculous! I have never heard of such a thing but I bet it's going to be happening in hospitals everywhere now. They're treating your brother like an inmate instead of a patient. :grr:

[yodoobo]

5. Phone and TV charges have been around for awhile.

I remember being pissed about it 20 years ago when I was in the hospital for a week.

daily tv charge and a daily phone charge.

[Donnachaidh]

7. I've been in hospitals in Atlanta and LA and *never* been charged for phone service.

It's a courtesy!

[yodoobo]

8. My hospital probably just got greedy earlier than most

Of course tv and phone charges are excluded for any insurance reimbursement too.

[Blue Diadem]

9. I ran into it years ago too, but not recently.

The recent hospital stays were at different hospitals than those who charged us years ago.

Yep, I remember being ticked off too, phone and tv both were always extra charges. I was quite surprised there was no mention of it these last two times.

[Christa]

6. Daylight robbery!

Years ago I had to go to the emergency room as I had a horrific, blinding headache and as it was weekend, I had no choice. After numerous tests and scans it was determined I had a sinus infection.

The bill came to almost $7,000. It is out of control and insane.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

12. Soon they'll be charging for bags and blankets like the airlines

I recently had a medical procedure performed in a clinic. I agree to pay a certain amount to the doctor and a separate amount to the surgical center. I gave the doctor a check and then went to write one for the clinic. The amount the clinic charged went up dramatically in the two days after I made the arrangements. I complained to the administative staff and told them they were charging me more than the doctor and I asked them what they were providing and whether it was more than just four walls in which the doctor could work. I'm uninsured and they appeared shocked that I would complain. They said people with insurance usually don't bitch about the costs because their insurance usually takes care of it. They almost threw me out of the clinic when I told them that this kind of greed was ruining the country. Insurance companies are skinning us alive, but so are the actual medical providers.

[blueworld]

13. Sorry to say hospitals in NJ were charging those fees decades ago

My mom died in 1989 and was in the hospital several times in the preceding years. I had to pay for the bloody phone & TV as well. The cell phones can interfere with ICU equipment (telemetry?) so I understand that, I suppose.

Wait until you look over your brother's itemized bill - you'll find a few more things to shock you, believe me.

My prayers & best wishes to your brother & your family.

[Donnachaidh]

15. Okay, so explain to me if you are used to the charges

WHY are cell phones banned? It's ridiculous! You are forced to pay these outrageous fees! Bro is in CCU -- considering how much his insurance is paying for his stay -- a phone should be a COURTESY...

[Blue Diadem]

19. Many hospitals don't allow their use due to the belief that it

can cause interference with medical equipment. I believe most of that has been debunked, unless it's in close proximity, something like 32" or less.

For the record, when I was a patient, I was allowed to use my cell phone on the surgical floor. When my husband was a patient, he couldn't, but he was on the cardiac floor.

[progressoid]

18. I use my cell phone in hospitals all the time

Unless it is socially unacceptable (like in a chapel or a quiet area).

Cell phones don't do anything to hospital equip.



Thursday, March 08, 2007

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Calls made on cellular phones have no negative impact on hospital medical devices, dispelling the long-held notion that they are unsafe to use in health care facilities, according to Mayo Clinic researchers.

In a study published in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers say normal use of cell phones results in no noticeable interference with patient care equipment. Three hundred tests were performed over a five-month period in 2006, without a single problem incurred.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-rst/3958.html

[Javaman]

20. Why it's a scam...

Where I work, many of my multitude of tasks involves the phone system. And also the company where I work also design hospitals.

So unless the hospital is using 19th century technology, they have a voice of IP system jack in all their rooms.

It takes all of 2 whole minutes to plug in a phone and have it come up and be recognized on the system. That's it. If you wanted to tweak it to make it "special" aka have the patients name on the ID, that takes another 2 whole minutes.

they are total bullshit con artists.

[dysfunctional press]

21. yeah...that's EXACTLY "why healthcare is so screwed up in this country"

because you can't reach your brother right this very second.

[Donnachaidh]

22. oh bite me

Who peed in your cornflakes?

It's just ONE of a long laundry list of overcharges and excessive charges the medical community feels they should be allowed to charge.

[dysfunctional press]

24. did it ever occur to you that they have to charge more for the LUXURIES...

in order to be able to serve the LEGITIMATE MEDICAL NEEDS of patients?

jesus h christ...:eyes:

[prolesunited]

23. Wow, I wish I had those problems

I'm getting kicked off COBRA this month and can't buy a new policy for the life of me because of multiple pre-existing conditions. A $10 phone charge is the least of my worries.

[cutlassmama]

25. when I was in intensive care they had a friggin phone on the wall so

people could call me. Seriously, when someone is THAT sick they don't need people calling them and waking them up. My body literally shook every time someone called and I had just had surgery so it hurt badly to shake.

If someone is that sick to be in the hospital they don't need people calling them and bothering them. Call the nurses' station to check on their progress.