A hospital visit

[Rodney Mills]

I've been off site for the past couple of days, as I have accompanied someone to hospital to undergo a medical test. After reading posts about the condition of hospitals in the UK , both good and bad and emails from my brother on service for my sister-in-law, plus two cousins (one's comments I posted on a NHS thread) complaining of both doctors and hospitals,I thought I would write a post about my visit while it is fresh in my mind.

At 6:15am we parked the car on the third floor of a nine story parking garage and walked a short distance to what is called a skywalk a glass enclosed pedestrian walkway connecting to Ashley River Towers Hospital which is one of five hospitals grouped together that form the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

We left the skyway and entered another glass enclosed corridor then automatic doors opened and we entered the hospital proper. The first thing we noted was a concierge station and two receptionists to direct you to were you should go. Next nearby was a baby grand piano, silent now, but from noon to 4:00 p.m. volunteer musicians and music teachers etc. play show tunes or light classical music., It's a nice soothing way to enter a hospital environment. next you would be instantly aware you were in a massive atrium, five stories high and half a city block wide, a glass enclosed open space that rose five floors above and the glass ceiling way up that flooded the place with natural light. Central were three flights of stairs going down to ground level. Naturally there were side elevators for use as well.

We walked down the staircase and entered the registration area. Insurance etc. was verified and we were given instructions where to go for our appointment, smoothly and efficiently, and asked if we parked and for our ticket it was stamped and we were told it would be for a maximum three dollar charge for each twenty-four hours of a patients stay or day visit..

As instructed we took an elevator to the third floor. On board were other patients, doctors, nurses etc. everyone said good morning to us as we entered, the closest to the door asked our floor and punched it onto the elevator keyboard. Charleston, S.C. has won the title "The most friendliest city in the USA" for years and new arrivals soon get into the urge to retain that title, and friendly greetings are the norm.

We left the elevator on floor three. A receptionist asked if she could help us and directed us to our area. Again the perimeter was all glass and I could see the small boat mariner and harbor area of Charleston harbor. We checked-in and a comfortable waiting area set-up in small groupings, armchairs, couches around coffee tables with current magazines available plus there was a complimentary twenty-four hour individual regular and decaffeinated coffee brewing station, very welcome at 6:45am.

At seven a.m. my patient's name was called and followed an attendant who led the way into the surgical area. At around 7:30 a.m. I was called and escorted to the room were the patient was prepped ready for the surgical procedure.

A screen was displaying vital signs, and the nurse was typing away on a computer. All allergies were double checked and identified by bracelets. Medical history was verbally gone over.

Next a senior resident came in and the procedure to be used was explained, plus how a recover would follow and that the surgeon would stop by and discuss the completed surgical procedure and follow-up etc.

A resident anesthesiologist was next and using the in-room computer station verified name date of birth and the patients knowledge of what was to be done. She reviewed the patients medical chart, triple checking meds, allergies and past medical history. This additionally had been handwritten on a large white board, visible to all who came in the room.

She explained the type of anesthesia that would be used and the name of the head anesthesiologist in charge.

7:50am and the patient was rolled away a little sleepy already.

The room was comparable to a very good hotel standard, modern furnishings and spotless. The walls were decorated with photo scenes of the Charleston area.

The nurses wore colored tops and pants as did the nursing assistants each with there own color, I assume for easy recognition. The orderlies that pushed the gurney wore a modern track suite of yet another color.

An attendant brought me a cup of coffee while I waited in the room.

The procedure completed, we had a three hour wait for a couple of x rays to be taken to confirm all was in order, which it was. In between the surgeon came in and briefly explained what he had done and how the procedure went from his p.o.v.. No problems.

The last x-ray was taken and the doctor okayed that the patient could resume eating and drinking. The nurse brought in a menu, anything could be ordered off the cafeteria/dining restaurant menu. She said the time would be anytime up to three quarters of an hour or they had pre-made picnic boxes, Juice, milk or coffee. A picnic box was agreeable, as the patient had not eaten since the previous dinner and was starving. The box meal consisted or a cheese and turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread. A packet of graham cracker cookies, a bag of baked chips (crisps) and a container of apple sauce and a small can of coke.

The patient was discharged with follow up instructions.

I left to get my car, vacated the garage and paid three dollars parking drove around the hospital and up a large circular ramp and the patient was waiting seated in a wheelchair with an attendant to see to the car door and give assistants.

Thus ended a trip to the hospital. Both the patient and I are senior citizens, U.S. Medicare is our primary coverage for which a senior pays one hundred dollars a month out of a monthly pension for 80% coverage, the remaining 20% is covered by a supplemental insurance policy @ $420.00 a month, the patients was roughly the same.

Out-of-pocket for the day was gas for the car and $3 parking.

Results are coming in daily on what is called "My Chart" which is the patients complete medical history which can be seen only by the individual patient and his/her doctors and other doctors (who must I.D. themselves before access).

Currently all the results from tests taken during this visit are being posted.

I know it's a bit lengthy and I've tried to give all details no matter how mundane to give you an awareness of the medical system I am exposed to.

I have limited experience of UK hospitals. My one visit was to visit my grandmother in Whips Cross General Hospital in 1993. She was stuck in a ward for about sixteen with a tatty screen, in want of being turned into polishing rags, for privacy. And while I, my wife and my Canadian first cousin visited a nurse brought her a cup of tea, with milk, six sugar cubes, and two chocolate covered digestive biscuits....My grandmother was a diabetic, which my pished off cousin quickly pointed out and was sharply told one cup of tea wouldn't harm her! (Like mind your own bloody business.) That and the general ancient age of equipment and facility did not impress us. Still that was a long time ago and my only introduction to the NHS.

My only other exposure was my car was broken into in Seville, Spain and a bag stolen which contained my medication.
I went to the Seville University Hospital to get a replacement prescription. I got it, but it was scruffy and dirty, as were the hospital employees and most patients and staff were smoking. And this was a medical university hospital who's existence is to train their nations future medical staff.

I guess the answer is if we are all happy with our medical system regardless it's the right one for each of us. I just thought my report on a hospital visit in the USA may be of interest.

A link to Ashley River Tower:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=ashley...=en-US&PC=DCTE

If you click on to the links you will see the ground floor concierge station, if you look behind them you will see the stairway I mentioned and at the top is the piano station.

[vic mcclymont]

Well Rodney, the UK is awash with bad news regarding the NHS.
Over Easter, my wife was passing blood in her urine, doctor thought it maybe an infection and treated as such, he also arranged for CAT and MRI scans and a urology examination.
Test found one her kidneys was inflamed, not sure if a stone.
She went for pre med check up, nurse was unsure of one her meds and the effect of anesthetic, op cancelled.
Meeting with anaesthetist, no problems with current med., op booked.
She went in Wednesday (last week) morning, had the op. early afternoon, eating a meal at five, discharged Thursday afternoon.
from my point of view, service that she had from the NHS is been brilliant. My only gripe, lack of carparks.
Regards
Vic

[cappy]

#the newspapers are constantly telling me how bad the NHS is ..niether myself or any of my family old or young has not had anything but ist class treatment on par with vics ,.my friends also...have good service ..it appears some doctors are harder to see in the cities but in emergencies there is of cause A and E ..i am sure there are many cases were people are not happy but then when millions are attending it is surely impossible to get right for each and all just my view......cappy

[Jim Brady]

I fell off a ladder 3 weeks ago and shattered my heel bone.My son took me to the walk in (no joke) centre where I was seen to.Within an hour of me being home Ihad a nurse to the house and two physiotherapists,this wa because of my age and they wanted to make sure that I would not be alone and that I would have somebody to look after me and the physio's were to get me mobile.There at people popping in all the time wanting to show me how to get upstairs on my bottom and how to use crutches and zimmer frame,the house is like Lourdes,two wheelchairs,a set of crutches and a zimmer frame and walking stick.I haven't been out of the house for three weeks so I haven't used any of the appliances I am sleeping downstairs and getting around on my computer chair with the wheels on,downstairs bathroom and it all on the flat.So I can only say that I have been realy looked after with the home visits.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Much the same here in Wales.

The staff are brilliant, been in and out of a fair few hospitals of late, all treatment has been excellent.

Keith.

[Keith at Tregenna]

I saw this poster in the University Hospital of Wales.

NHS CYMRU.jpg

[happy daze john in oz]

I have a niece and her husband both senior radiologists in major central London hospitals. They both say how overcrowded the system is and how it daily gets worse.

Brother in law has been in and out for over 50 years and the hospital he has used all these years ahs all his notes. Recently he went for a check up but was refused service as they claimed he had not completed the form correctly. He did eventually get to see a senior doctor who told him, 'look at that lot out there, that is what we have to deal with every day.

Another brother in law has wife with Dementia, he tells me he can get no assistance of any kind from the NHS.

But that is London so cannot say what the rest of the nation is like.

[Captain Kong]

When I was in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2013, I had to go to the Queens Medical Centre in a taxi, at 7pm with very severe Pains around the waist and stomach.
A five minute wait at the ER and then seen to, lay naked under a sheet on a trolley, or Gourney as they say over there.
Doctor Shaun Ray says , "You have no more than four days to live without treatment, If you had sailed on your ship you would be buried at sea,
who is your next of kin?", I said my son, Doctor Richard Aspinall," he says "I know him, " he pulls out his phone , taps it a few times and then says , " Hi Richard, Shaun here in Honolulu, we have your father here", hands me the phone , "Here talk to your son,". I thought that was magic.
12,000 miles away and the Doctor knows my son.

I was given CT and MRI Scans, and then into a room. It had a bed room, with all kinds of equipment in, a small lounge, bathroom and a computer and TV. and best of all a beautiful Hawaiian Nurse,. The Nurses all wore Hawaiian Shirts full of flowers and a different colour for each rank.
I had three Nurses on shifts round the clock.
Then two Surgeons visited me the following morning, and explained what they were going to do, each one Knew my son, amazing,
I was asked if I had Insurance, Yes, one Surgeon said , "The last three Patients did not have Insurance, "
I had two major operations and stayed in there for three weeks, Well looked after,
The ships agent put Anne into a hotel over three miles away in Waikiki and very difficult for her to get to the hospital so I told her to ask at the reception about Hotels, They put her into the Aston hotel, only a couple of hundred yards away, that was a beautiful hotel and the best I have ever seen, a Full Suite, bedroom, lounge, dining room, Kitchen with fabulous views up the Valleys and mountains..
I was finally released on Valentines Day and all the Nurses lined up and each one gave me a Valentines Card and a hug and a kiss. . What more could a man want. They saved my life and it was a great pleasure to be in there, I was sad to leave.
Then spent a week in the hotel to recuperate and then flown home 1st Class, A fantastic experience.

That would never have happened in the Bolton Hospital.

But I always go now to Salford Royal Hospital, where again the treatment is also 1st class, it is in the top Four Hospitals in the UK, and at this moment another £200,000,000 is being spent on it.
So the NHS is again the best , but too many people are coming into this country, not having paid one penny, Half a million immigrants last year,
They should all be charged, I also think that Drunks in A^E and Druggies and any other self inflicted injuries and sickness should also be charged . No Pay No Play.
Brian

[Louis the fly]

This time next year Rodney we will be millionaires.

[Captain Kong]

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