Private hospitals solely driven by profit....?


Benign

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Jan 30, 2004
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Melbourne
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I should be happy that my baby was born five days ago. But I am becoming more and more sceptical about the hospital she was born in...

The hospital has been reminding us to go back for the same tests that was done two days after she was born....

Then treatment(phototherapy) performed despite she was near the level of Neonatal Jaundice (1.5) She was diagnosed as 1.47. Blood test was conducted. She was clear. Now on the fifth day, going through the same test again.
I am not a doctor...but couldn't stop wondering how a baby just a few days old. Can subject to numerous tests (otoacoustic emission, neonatal bilirubin, blood tests) ?

When it comes to your own child, money is never an issue......but are all these tests necessary in such short spate of time? So far, the hospital only said neonatal jaundice...




:mad2:
 

Would you rather knowing the baby is safe & healthy now.... or wait till a few days later at home, hoping yourself, would know if the baby isn't suffering from any problem. :think:

And yes... private hospitals like every other privately own company... is out to make money. Being a hospital doesn't change that.....
 

Hospitals exists to service private medical practitioners and their patients. Hospitals do not order tests. Doctors do. Perhaps your doctor is just trying to cover all bases and make sure that your baby is healthy
 

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Private hospitals, every damn piece of items is chargeable. Quite scary... :sweat:
 

all hospitals, including the public hospitals are driven by profits. Most doctors are driven by salary and benefits.
 

I should be happy that my baby was born five days ago. But I am becoming more and more sceptical about the hospital she was born in...

The hospital has been reminding us to go back for the same tests that was done two days after she was born....

Then treatment(phototherapy) performed despite she was near the level of Neonatal Jaundice (1.5) She was diagnosed as 1.47. Blood test was conducted. She was clear. Now on the fifth day, going through the same test again.
I am not a doctor...but couldn't stop wondering how a baby just a few days old. Can subject to numerous tests (otoacoustic emission, neonatal bilirubin, blood tests) ?

When it comes to your own child, money is never an issue......but are all these tests necessary in such short spate of time? So far, the hospital only said neonatal jaundice...
:mad2:

From what I've been told, neonatal jaundice is very normal among Asian kids esp Mongoloids. These days hospitals would want you to do phototherapy but in the old days they just let the kids get some sun and it'll clear up.

all hospitals, including the public hospitals are driven by profits. Most doctors are driven by salary and benefits.

Who isn't after money in the world? :sweat:
 

I should be happy that my baby was born five days ago. But I am becoming more and more sceptical about the hospital she was born in...

The hospital has been reminding us to go back for the same tests that was done two days after she was born....

Then treatment(phototherapy) performed despite she was near the level of Neonatal Jaundice (1.5) She was diagnosed as 1.47. Blood test was conducted. She was clear. Now on the fifth day, going through the same test again.
I am not a doctor...but couldn't stop wondering how a baby just a few days old. Can subject to numerous tests (otoacoustic emission, neonatal bilirubin, blood tests) ?

When it comes to your own child, money is never an issue......but are all these tests necessary in such short spate of time? So far, the hospital only said neonatal jaundice...




:mad2:

Funny.
I had quite a similar incident. Post-natal as well but concerning my wife rather than my baby.
At the time my wife delivered our child, she was diagnosed with high-blood pressure (which oddly only appeared like 2 weeks before delivery when regular monthly checkups months before showed nothing).
She was put other special observation during her labor period which involved strict monitoring of both her vital stats as well as the baby (doctors and nurses were afraid her high blood pressure might adversely affect the baby).
Fortunately, the birth went through without a hitch. Baby was medically certified ok and ready to go home the next day.
But not my wife. Doctors said her blood pressure was still 'too' high and risky to bring home in case something happens to her at home.
Gave her various blood meds and kept her permanently hooked up to a blood pressure monitor.
On the 3rd day, 2 shift doctors discussed with her with the intention to release her and was she happy. But got overridden by the senior doctor and told to stay another day. Told to rest and relax to bring the pressure down. Best part was she got moved to a ward which was packed with visitors that had kids running around playing. How to relax in such a din?
My wife was on the point of breaking down. She wanted to go home. She was pretty much healthy and she was worried about our son, whom we noted started to develop early signs of jaundice (yellowish stains on the sides of the eyes).
I checked with 2 relatives who are full time nurses at 2 other hospitals and they said the same thing: high-blood pressure is normal near birth periods and it will go down after a while.

Decided before my wife had a full nervous breakdown, I informed the doctor that I wanted to discharge my wife from the hospital on the night of the 3rd day. Told her I will take full responsibility and will indemnify the hospital. We got out that very night (remembered it well as 1. it rained heavily that night and 2. Spain won Euro 2008 that night. :) )

To end it all, my wife's blood pressure went down and had no health issues after that.

And this was a gahment hospital.

I can tell they were genuinely concerned but with several consistent medical opinions in contradiction to one senior opinion, it kinda left a bad impression on me.
My wife agreed later on that for our next child, it will be a private hospital this time.
 

Pre-eclampsia can lead to serious complications. Not really something to consider lightly.
Glad to hear that your wife is happy and healthy now.
 

I think it is up to the respective gynaecologist or pediatrician to decide on what is more suitable for the mother or child. Some will want to cover all grounds to cover their backside, while other more experienced and responsible ones will tend to eliminate unnecessary spendings and tests, although the latter is getting less and less.

Most of the specialists nowadays are VERY profit driven. No money no talk, although we can still see some very responsible and caring specialists in private hospitals. Government hospitals I'm not sure, as I don't really trust them.
 

Jaundice is common and nothing to worry about. My 2 daughters were also diagnosed jaundice when they just born.
 

Jaundice is common and nothing to worry about. My 2 daughters were also diagnosed jaundice when they just born.

Slight jaundice is all right, as babies' liver is not fully developed yet. Acute jaundice can be dangerous and fatal, so even there's nothing to worry, still have to watch the indices to make sure everything is all right.

However, if many tests are still done even though it is just slight jaundice, then it's a bit over to the extreme liao.
 

Everyone, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. :thumbsup:

Personally, I don't doubt private hospitals has many advantages over government ones.

But over the years, horror stories I heard from friends/relatives about private hospitals are just as scary as government ones.

Last March, my Father in Law had a hemorrhagic stroke. Ended up spending more than a month in ICU at a private hospital in KL. In the beginning, he was half paralysed and conscious. A maid was left attending to his needs in the hospital ward. On the third night, he had a fever and lapsed into a coma. The time was about 12am....nurse was called...but failed to turn up till 6am routine check around the ward. The specialist neuro surgeon was called...he came in at 8am. But the chest doctor wasn't available till 3pm in the afternoon. A later explanation was that the chest doctor had good reason why he wasn't available....The patient chest was drowning with fluid. Nurses pushed the responsibility to the doctors...vice versa. An internal investigation was carried out about what really happened. Till Today, we the family have yet to be informed. Two months after his discharged. Spending almost one month in ICU and costing more than 250K. Mind you, a day at the ICU cost about 5 to 6k on average.

Even, during the discharge...doctor asked about the cost and then commented that it was excessive. Another doctor was recommending further stay for another minor surgery. We asked why this wasn't brought up when the patient was warded. Again, silence...

The outcome: The patient left with only a slight movement of his right arm, loss of speech ...much worst than the day he was admitted.

Actually, the patient wasn't really discharged and gone home. He was recommended moving to another private hospital for treatment.

Well, back to my baby daughter. She was diagnosed ok. But recommended weekly visit to further observe her 'Jaundice'. Next Friday is her appointment date... And the same thing goes for my wife. Now I wonder what is the purpose of having Confinement. Might as well book a room at the hospital for confinement. Instead of travelling twice a week in and out of the hospital.

Before the birth of our baby, my wife signed up and deposited the baby cord blood with a local stem cell facility.

So, where do we draw that line....on how much medical services we really do need and money well spent? So much so for those less fortunates in our society...
 

Everyone, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. :thumbsup:

Personally, I don't doubt private hospitals has many advantages over government ones.

But over the years, horror stories I heard from friends/relatives about private hospitals are just as scary as government ones.

Last March, my Father in Law had a hemorrhagic stroke. Ended up spending more than a month in ICU at a private hospital in KL. In the beginning, he was half paralysed and conscious. A maid was left attending to his needs in the hospital ward. On the third night, he had a fever and lapsed into a coma. The time was about 12am....nurse was called...but failed to turn up till 6am routine check around the ward. The specialist neuro surgeon was called...he came in at 8am. But the chest doctor wasn't available till 3pm in the afternoon. A later explanation was that the chest doctor had good reason why he wasn't available....The patient chest was drowning with fluid. Nurses pushed the responsibility to the doctors...vice versa. An internal investigation was carried out about what really happened. Till Today, we the family have yet to be informed. Two months after his discharged. Spending almost one month in ICU and costing more than 250K. Mind you, a day at the ICU cost about 5 to 6k on average.

Even, during the discharge...doctor asked about the cost and then commented that it was excessive. Another doctor was recommending further stay for another minor surgery. We asked why this wasn't brought up when the patient was warded. Again, silence...

The outcome: The patient left with only a slight movement of his right arm, loss of speech ...much worst than the day he was admitted.

Actually, the patient wasn't really discharged and gone home. He was recommended moving to another private hospital for treatment.

Well, back to my baby daughter. She was diagnosed ok. But recommended weekly visit to further observe her 'Jaundice'. Next Friday is her appointment date... And the same thing goes for my wife. Now I wonder what is the purpose of having Confinement. Might as well book a room at the hospital for confinement. Instead of travelling twice a week in and out of the hospital.

Before the birth of our baby, my wife signed up and deposited the baby cord blood with a local stem cell facility.

So, where do we draw that line....on how much medical services we really do need and money well spent? So much so for those less fortunates in our society...

I understand what you mean.

My newborn girl face similar issues with that you had. I question the doctor / nurse for the necessity of extending her stay in the intensive nursery ward. Not that I do not trust the doctor - it is the administrative procedures that was delaying the whole thing and the doctor say the baby should be discharge , but it is a manner of procedures that keep her in the ward.

In the end , some pressure onto the staff in charge works. I cut the stay and the appointment for jaundice - but I bring her to a specialist doctor that is near my place for checkup. Save the time , hassles, pain and get faster assurance the baby is alright from elsewhere.

Several years back , i was admitted to hospital. Though the specialist clear me , it is still a matter of procedures that i take the tests before i am allowed to discharge. This extra tests cost several thousands.

Yes , i suspect though those processes are well intended though they cost fair bit of money and it is likely the poor will find difficulty in affording it
 

Was told that jaundice test is being done for all newborn babies in Singapore. As in 100%. Like you, my 2nd baby (born last month) was diagnosed with jaundice as well. She had to stay 2 days more in the hospital for monitoring.. and for that we paid S$900+ (about s$300+ of which was for the specialist/pedia, IIRC). Anyway, better be safe than be sorry, we thought. :)

:Later,
 

Jaundice is a small thing but it is what that causes it that maybe serious.Before questioning the tests, it is best to find out more of why they do some tests and the deeper reason. Google maybe a gd dictionary for the layman but it has create a mass of pseudo-doctors...ever heard of choledocal cyst or other congenital biliary anomalies or hepatic condition?

sometimes doctors don't say too much because it is not gd to create unnecessary fear. I suggest if you ever have doubt, best to find medical friends(if you have. and i mean doctors or maybe really senior nurses who has assisted in major surgery of relevant field)

some ppl says public hospital not gd. Really? Did you check out the equipment status they have and the private sector? don't forget the private doctors also used to work in public sector. and these days some private doctors also run clinic in public hospital.

Just sharing from my own experience, my own wedding was almost cancel because one of these congential defect (was hard to detect back then when technology was not as advance as now.) my wife (not married yet then) had to go thru a 18 hr surgery to remove her cyst. if it has turn cancerous, it is game over for her. cyst remove successfully but her risk of cancer is still higher than ppl who doesn't suffer from these congenital defect. and yes the surgery is done in a public hospital. i din like the standard of service, but i know i have the best hands and i know the equipment is not inferior to those in mt e. she was discharge 2 weeks before our actual wedding and had a damn bag connected to her bile duct and liver under the wedding gown
stayed 3 days in ICU, 1-2 weeks in High D ward and another 1wk plus in normal ward.
 

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Bottom line is .. private hospitals cater to folks who can pay.
If one cannot afford to pay, then one should avoid private hospitals.
If one should decide to go to them, then be prepared to pay.

Just like i cant afford to go eat in "casino" restaurants, i stay away from them ;)