This is why I hate and do not trust hospitals

Alliebooberz · December 2012

I just got my bill from my hospital visit for HG.
($5000 before insurance, for all of you idiots who want to go to the ER for a non-emergency.)

When I was there, I talked to the doctor about being dehydrated and that my OB had me come in for fluids and that it wasn't an emergency situation. The doctor was just fine with giving me fluids after I had an ultrasound to confirm a viable pregnancy. Not once did we discuss medication except that I had been having an EXTREME reaction to the zofran I had been taking and that I no longer wanted to take it because it brought more trouble than it was worth.

An hour or more later, a nurse comes in to start my IV (after REFUSING to give me any water or ice chips) and says oh wait, I forgot your medication. I said excuse me, what medication? I'm not taking any medications. She gets all pissed and says oh well I will have to talk to the doctor about it. She says this like she's telling on me and somehow the doctor is the authority of what goes in my body. I calmly tell her, yes, I would like to talk to the doctor. I do not want ANY medications, I had a strong bad reaction and I am not comfortable taking any at this point. I do not want ANY medications.

She gets all pissed again and says "WELL that's why you're here! For MEDICATION!" And I looked her in the eye and said, No, actually, I'm here for IV fluids. She turned and left.

A little while later, she came back in, never mentioned meds again and hooked up an IV. I asked her what the bags were, she said it was just saline.

What do you know... I get my bill the other day and $160 of it was Medications.

So I was given medication in my IV when I specifically said ABSOLUTELY NO MEDS.

THIS is what is wrong with healthcare, I wasn't even allowed to deny care that was UNNECESSARY.

I'm so freaking pissed right now.

notquiteblushing · December 2012

I would be pissed. Actually I would call the hospital and ask to speak to a Patient Liason and ask her to verify that they gave you medicine against your will.

kread8 · December 2012

Holy crap... that is ridiculous. I would call and complain if I were you. That has to be illegal?! Giving you meds when you specifically said not to and not telling you what they were giving you?!

Alliebooberz · December 2012

notquiteblushing:
I would be pissed. Actually I would call the hospital and ask to speak to a Patient Liason and ask her to verify that they gave you medicine against your will.

How do I ask for that?? Which part of the hospital do I call for that?

ASmallWonder · December 2012

I don't blame you for being pissed but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you got the meds (of course, that's more than worth a phone call to check on). I would assume they took them from inventory or drew them up or whatever needed to be done and "assigned" them to you in your chart, thereby becoming part of your billing file. When I had my son I had things on my hospital bill that I did NOT have (100% sure - lactation consult and oxygen for all the days after my stay - I would know if I had those lol). They ended up in my file but they didn't actually offer them to me.

JinglesChic · December 2012

Are you sure that it's not the saline that you're being charged for? It's considered a medication, especially since it's being administered IV (you need a script for it).

I would be pissed with the bedside manner. Please note, as a nurse, that not all hospitals act like that.

MnM7608 · December 2012

JinglesChic:
Are you sure that it's not the saline that you're being charged for? It's considered a medication, especially since it's being administered IV (you need a script for it).
I would be pissed with the bedside manner. Please note, as a nurse, that not all hospitals act like that.

I was going to say the same thing. You need a doctor's order for normal saline. Also, as a nurse, I would never give a patient something without them knowing what it was.

skio · December 2012

I'm sorry, Allie. I'd be super pissed, too. Did you get the doctor's and nurse's names, by chance? I'd bend over backwards to make sure I was able to talk to their superiors and lodge a complaint. But the above suggestions are good...make sure you were actually given a medicine first and not just the saline.

Really lucky for them that you didn't have a reaction.

notquiteblushing · December 2012

Alliebooberz:

notquiteblushing:
I would be pissed. Actually I would call the hospital and ask to speak to a Patient Liason and ask her to verify that they gave you medicine against your will.

How do I ask for that?? Which part of the hospital do I call for that?

I would call the switchboard and ask if you can't find the direct number on the web site.

toomanycats1 · December 2012

I agree with PP's and think it was the saline you are being billed for. I work at a hospital and know that they are included as a medication. Is the saline listed separately on your bill? If not, then that's the medication they are talking about.

I understand your frustration with the nurse, but she initially would have been doing what she was instructed by the doctor, so it was his error if medication was listed. She could not simply just modify the order for you.

I know it must suck to be in the ER feeling sick and dehydrated, but it's alot busier than regular wards, and a nurse probably would have given you more attention and brought you ice chips had there not been pressing matters. In a hospital you want to give each patient the best care possible, but sometimes some patients are more critical and you have to prioritize. It sucks for staff too.

Hope you get it straightened out though, and start to feel better :-)

MrsKatie07 · December 2012

MnM7608:
JinglesChic:
Are you sure that it's not the saline that you're being charged for? It's considered a medication, especially since it's being administered IV (you need a script for it).
I would be pissed with the bedside manner. Please note, as a nurse, that not all hospitals act like that.
I was going to say the same thing. You need a doctor's order for normal saline. Also, as a nurse, I would never give a patient something without them knowing what it was.

All of this. Also, someone said you may have been charged for it but it may not have actually been administered. They should be able to look in your chart to verify everything you actually got. As a nurse, I can say that I would never ever give a patient something against their will. Worst case scenario, you give your patient something they ask not to have and they die...then what??

Britt8058 · December 2012

Was there a separate charge for the IV fluids? At my hospital, a bag of saline is around 150 a bag, so I'm guessing that's what it was.

You can go to the medical records department at the hospital and sign a release for your records. It would contain the medical administration record and would show what was given

BLT20051 · December 2012

Alliebooberz:

notquiteblushing:
I would be pissed. Actually I would call the hospital and ask to speak to a Patient Liason and ask her to verify that they gave you medicine against your will.

How do I ask for that?? Which part of the hospital do I call for that?

Most have a dedicated patient advocate/complaints section. They take formal complaints very seriously. I'm sorry you had such a horrid experience but not all hospitals are like that and TBH you don't even know they gave it to you against your will yet. I would complain about the nurse for sure though.

Dragonfly1226 · December 2012

notquiteblushing:
I would be pissed. Actually I would call the hospital and ask to speak to a Patient Liason and ask her to verify that they gave you medicine against your will.

That's ridiculous! And actually I think it is a big issue for the hospital. It's not even legal, is it? I would definitely follow this advice and talk to someone at the hospital!

Alliebooberz · December 2012

I called billing and asked them to explain each thing on the bill, it looks like it was the saline solution, not other meds.

But, while on the phone with them I asked for the number for patient liaison and she all but flat out refused to give me the number. She wanted to know what exactly my complaints were and wouldn't give me any number until I gave her specific info which I didn't feel comfortable doing. I asked if there was a general number and she wouldn't give me anything.

singahappysong · December 2012

JinglesChic:
Are you sure that it's not the saline that you're being charged for? It's considered a medication, especially since it's being administered IV (you need a script for it).
I would be pissed with the bedside manner. Please note, as a nurse, that not all hospitals act like that.

Maybe they charged you for medication that they didn't give you (a screw up in the invoicing). Definitely call though.

MrsKatieW · December 2012

Alliebooberz:
I called billing and asked them to explain each thing on the bill, it looks like it was the saline solution, not other meds. But, while on the phone with them I asked for the number for patient liaison and she all but flat out refused to give me the number. She wanted to know what exactly my complaints were and wouldn't give me any number until I gave her specific info which I didn't feel comfortable doing. I asked if there was a general number and she wouldn't give me anything.

I'm sorry they've been so rude! That makes me so angry for you. Does the hospital have a website? I just did a quick check on the website for the hospital I had DS2 at, there's a list of phone numbers for all departments including the patient rep.

REWOP2 · December 2012

Saline=IV medication/therapy

The nurse probably would not give you any water/ ice chips as per the doctors orders. As a healthcare professional it is VERY hard to take care of a patient who does not want to be treated, especially when that nurse may have had many other patients there to take care of. A nurse cannot give you a medication unless she has orders from a doctor to do so, in fact the pharmacy within the hospital will not even dispense a medication to the unit without a doctors order. HOWEVER there is a way to treat people and there is a way to speak to people. Sounds like she should have been a bit more sensitive to your needs.

What weren't you allowed to deny? It seems as though you got the iv fluids you went in looking for?

You have absolutely every right to speak to a patient liaison if you feel you were treated unfairly or poorly. I would start with the website of the hospital and look for a list of numbers/departments or a general number. If your still having trouble, maybe try to get in contact with the nurse manager of the ER and go from there.

adeller11 · December 2012

Unbelievable! You definitely need to report this, especially since you specifically said NO MEDS. Unless they have an explanation for the meds they gave you, this could be a serious lawsuit on their hands. Please make sure you follow up on this!

REWOP2 · December 2012

adeller11:
Unbelievable! You definitely need to report this, especially since you specifically said NO MEDS. Unless they have an explanation for the meds they gave you, this could be a serious lawsuit on their hands. Please make sure you follow up on this!nbsp;

IV saline is considered a medication.

jane.says · December 2012

elmoali:
I don't blame you for being pissed but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you got the meds (of course, that's more than worth a phone call to check on). I would assume they took them from inventory or drew them up or whatever needed to be done and "assigned" them to you in your chart, thereby becoming part of your billing file. When I had my son I had things on my hospital bill that I did NOT have (100% sure - lactation consult and oxygen for all the days after my stay - I would know if I had those lol). They ended up in my file but they didn't actually offer them to me.

This ? if the doctor ordered them, you probably got billed for them whether they were administered or not. Sorry you had such a contentious nurse.

spolan · December 2012

In terms of patient liaison, I would call back and ask to be put through. If they ask again why, tell them it is a confidential, medical matter and legally they have no business even asking the question, so unless they would like to speak further about your patient rights with your lawyer, you would like to be put through immediately.
Also, in terms of refusing treatments/procedures in the US, I wouldn't knock it so hard. You do have the option to refuse, even if you have to fight it. I'm getting all of my PN care in France and things like 3 ultrasounds, monthly visits, and monthly bloodwork is mandatory. If at any point I refuse any of the above, I will lose my insurance for the duration of my perinatal and immediate postnatal care 14 days following the birth. It also means I would lose my "birth bonus" which is roughly 1300.

courty625 · December 2012

Alliebooberz:
I called billing and asked them to explain each thing on the bill, it looks like it was the saline solution, not other meds. But, while on the phone with them I asked for the number for patient liaison and she all but flat out refused to give me the number. She wanted to know what exactly my complaints were and wouldn't give me any number until I gave her specific info which I didn't feel comfortable doing. I asked if there was a general number and she wouldn't give me anything.

You should call back and demand to speak with a patient liaison, and add this to your complaints. That is a clear HIPPA violation and they legally can't refuse your right to formally complain nor ask about personal medical information.

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This is why I hate and do not trust hospitals

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