Hospital Surveys

[Mojo88]

I go to a large hospital for my healthcare. It’s ranked highly in the world. Like any other huge hospital it has it’s positives and negatives. My doctors are good guys and are easy to get along with. It’s just the wait to get in for an appointment. It’s a year for a physical and that’s not an exaggeration.

I had an appointment with my cardiologist and we were talking about the wait, he commented that his physical wait time was 6 months. I told him half jokingly that it’s good you guys aren’t ranked lower in the world, it would be two years to get in. He thought it was hilarious and laughed for quite some time.

Recently they enacted a policy that if you contact your physician for anything but a prescription refill they bill you like a doctors visit. It’s so difficult to get in sometimes it’s the only option. I realize that some people abuse the system, but there should be a limit, then a charge. Just my opinion.

They sent me a survey and rather than fill it out I sent them this:

In light of the fact that you charge for anything but a refill request I have adopted your policy. All surveys that I would do will be 500.00 for my time. Please let me know where to send the invoice.

Let’s see if I get my check

 

[musicman1951]

Most of the doctors in my area are in groups that are affiliated with one of the two main hospitals, but their buildings are separate from the hospital. They both have patient portals, which usually work a lot better than phone calls where nobody answers and you just leave a message. The portal is for questions and refills, etc.

The wait times for appointments is becoming a big problem here as well for some specialists. It does seem strange they don't even leave holes in their schedule for emergencies, but these decisions are now made by the hospital overlords, and they apparently need money.

 

[Sideburns]

I live in Trinidad, CO, but my primary is about 25 miles away, in Raton, NM. For emergencies, X-Rays and the like I go to the local hospital, less than a mile away. The last time I went there for an emergency I had a broken hip. They don't have an orthopedic surgeon on staff, so I ended up in a hospital in Colorado Springs, two hours away for two weeks. However, all of the bills were paid by the VA so I'm not still trying to pay the debt off over two years later.

 

[DesertIguana]

Honestly having worked in Hospital, the most important people to Hospitals are the Doctor who fill beds.

Medicine has change since I worked in hospitals. Now they are about making money.

We have large chain of non profit hospitals out west.

Their CEO makes 20,000,000.00/year.

My joke is how much would he make if they were for profit?

 

[Mojo88]

Exactly my thoughts. Ours is a non profit and they are always asking for donations. I have donated enough in the way of bills.

 

[Mojo88]

I live in Trinidad, CO, but my primary is about 25 miles away, in Raton, NM. For emergencies, X-Rays and the like I go to the local hospital, less than a mile away. The last time I went there for an emergency I had a broken hip. They don't have an orthopedic surgeon on staff, so I ended up in a hospital in Colorado Springs, two hours away for two weeks. However, all of the bills were paid by the VA so I'm not still trying to pay the debt off over two years later.

I was life flighted 4 years ago and fortunately the insurance covered the flight. It was 42000 just for the flight and the hospital bill was another 80000.

 

[DesertIguana]

Well I know the V.A. Healthcare System is U.S.A., largest it has many problems.

In desperate need of Mental Health Providers.

Short on Physicians, and other staff. Pay is not greatest.

Large percentage is Unionized, so it is hard to fire people doing marginal job.

Last the people at top are not medical people. Most have never Ben in patient care, but tell staff how to practice medicine.

Last number is 25% of appoints are no show, and don’t call to say they are not coming to appointments.

 

[luvmysuper]

Well I know the V.A. Healthcare System is U.S.A., largest it has many problems.

In desperate need of Mental Health Providers.

Short on Physicians, and other staff. Pay is not greatest.

Large percentage is Unionized, so it is hard to fire people doing marginal job.

Last the people at top are not medical people. Most have never Ben in patient care, but tell staff how to practice medicine.

Last number is 25% of appoints are no show, and don’t call to say they are not coming to appointments.

I get like a half a dozen texts leading up to an appointment asking for confirmation.
That's in addition to the emails and letters that are just informatory reminders.

 

[Rushman2112]

Most healthcare here is private - there is a subsidised sector but I am not sure who qualifies. Health insurance is expensive, as is treatment and most medication. That said, it is very good, no waiting and if I need to see a specialist I would be able to get an appointment within days.

Recently, I fell over coming out of the bathroom and went face down into the floor: I went to A&E at one of the hospitals, and was seen within 30 mins. I was sent for a scan, and had the results within an hour. Follow up with the attending doctor, and I was done within just under 3 hours, SGD900 all in.

 

[Mojo88]

I get like a half a dozen texts leading up to an appointment asking for confirmation.
That's in addition to the emails and letters that are just informatory reminders.

They text, call and email for every appointment. In addition to that, they have a pre-check email.

Some even have a no show policy charge. If you don’t call, it’s a 75 dollar charge. Right now I am on two waiting lists for earlier appointments. I have been on them since November of last year.

I had a scheduled appointment and I asked the nurse if they are ever slow. She said they had a couple days in February where they were slow, other than those days they are completely booked.

 

[DesertIguana]

Well the VA sends post card, does e-mail reminder, and last TEXT reminders, and still as I said 25% of Vets are no show, no calls. Friend worked in Vascular Lab as clerk, she said they were pushing to get Vets of certain age screened for aneurysms. Saturday were OT for her and Technicians. Still they dealt with same no show rate for appointments to accommodate people.

 

[Toothpick]

Seems fair. I recently bought a motorcycle and a car. Both places told me I’d be getting a survey invite and if I didn’t feel like they deserved a perfect score not to take them because anything less than perfect was considered failing.

IMO these surveys are nothing more than a waste of time. What changes have ever came from suggestions in customer service surveys??

 

[luvmysuper]

What changes have ever came from suggestions in customer service surveys??

nil
naught
zip
zilch
zero
none

 

[Ted A]

I think the primary beneficiaries of these surveys are the consultants who convince someone to buy the software and then “interpret” the results for them.

I worked for a company that was always sending surveys. They had a customer who sent them a letter saying that she loved their services but she was changing because she was worn out with all the surveys she was asked to answer.

 

[DesertIguana]

Seems fair. I recently bought a motorcycle and a car. Both places told me I’d be getting a survey invite and if I didn’t feel like they deserved a perfect score not to take them because anything less than perfect was considered failing.

IMO these surveys are nothing more than a waste of time. What changes have ever came from suggestions in customer service surveys??

Well post sale Auto & Motorcycle surveys can effect bonus money for dealerships, allocation of product for dealerships, and last bonus money to salesman.

Years ago had a HD motorcycle, never filled out post sale survey, but kept them. One day I had service done on motorcycle, rode home, parked bike, and week late started on trip. Throttle cable broke with in 5 miles, it came out housing, and was dry a doogpoo. Bike was towed back to dealer and went to speak with owners son.

Asked why they did half job, showing photo of the throttle cable that was not service. Expect to pay zero for repair, they charge me. I asked if they stood behind their service work, owners son said yes until you leave our property. now go pay your repair bill, and leave my office, I am busy. Yes I had to pay for repair, for problem they created by not lubing throttle cable.

I got even over next few months I send in all the reviews - surveys who terrible ratings. Apparently the deal lost part of allocation, and bonus money. I was told this by ex employee who told me. Bad survey cost things.

 

[Mojo88]

Seems fair. I recently bought a motorcycle and a car. Both places told me I’d be getting a survey invite and if I didn’t feel like they deserved a perfect score not to take them because anything less than perfect was considered failing.

IMO these surveys are nothing more than a waste of time. What changes have ever came from suggestions in customer service surveys??

I worked a car dealership for a brief period of time and they are paid by the manufacturers for perfect scores. Anything other than that means less money for the dealer. To me it’s similar to the HR surveys, do you like your manager? It was my experience that many surveys were communicated directly back to the manager. I never filled them out, it was career suicide.

 

[DesertIguana]

Well I know my personal experience with Harley Dealer, bit them big.

IMHO I should not have had to pay for them to fix, what they did not service, and were paid to service.

Mechanic was responsible part for not doing job.

 

[TinyTim]

I called the Clinic where I get healthcare earlier this year to schedule a visit with Sleep Medicine doctor. They said that the first opening they had was August. I wanted to say in response, "Is that August of 2024 or 2025?"

 

[Sideburns]

@TinyTim, I had some sleep issues years ago and there's one thing I can pass on to you as it's not patient specific: there are only two things you should be doing in bed, and one of then's sleeping. No reading, no TV, no Internet or other computer stuff.

 

[TinyTim]

@TinyTim, I had some sleep issues years ago and there's one thing I can pass on to you as it's not patient specific: there are only two things you should be doing in bed, and one of then's sleeping. No reading, no TV, no Internet or other computer stuff.

I've actually got sleep down to a fine art, but I use a CPAP machine for mild sleep apnea and need to switch to another Sleep Doc since my is about to retire.