As a doctor friend said recently, "The glory days of medicine are gone". I couldn't agree with her more but there are still ways to get the best care you can in a hospital. If you are timid or feel too ill to fight for yourself, you need a partner, a family member or friend to go to bat for you. A good friend recently had major surgery in probably the best hospital in her area. Sadly, the hospital now uses hospitalists who have greatly changed the practice of medicine. These doctors usually have board certification in internal medicine and then one or two more years to become hospitalists. They come to the hospital, seemingly at their own time, write some orders, may or may not talk with the patients and then go home as soon as they can. I had a very bad experience with one when my brother was ill in Las Vegas. The man neither spoke to Keith's private physician, reviewed his medical record, would not speak with me and provided terrible care. Other doctor friends have had similar experiences even in major medical school hospitals. The whole idea is that private physicians can now avoid going to hospitals. It is appalling that there are now even pediatric hospitalists. I would never let such an individual care for my babies or children.
My suggestion to my friend was to speak to the CEO of the hospital or have a family member do so. The woman also had a problem with two nurses and once again I suggested she ask to speak with the director of nursing. There is no excuse for bad medical care in a hospital. If the food is a problem, then I would speak with the head dietitian. The squeaky wheel does not the grease. Hospitals should be clean, well run and with caring staff.
