General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

It's Tick season folks:

Remove a tick the wrong way and get red meat allergy:

Catalyst: Tick allergy - ABC TV Science

Freeze 'em don't squeeze 'em

 

[Flying mermaid]

Miss FM was asked at her first interview for a teaching job, why someone with her atar (year 12) and results from her science degree was going into teaching.....Quite sad that even the people in the profession seemed to feel it was an occupation for people who didn't have the scores to do anything else.

She could earn a lot more money by going into another profession but she really wants to be a teacher.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sad. if the pay grades where higher it may actually attract more people from the higher echelons of learning to teach.

 

[QF WP]

One of the mini-QF WP's was at his Paediatric Ophthalmologists (Professor Glen Gole) 6 monthly check up this afternoon at Lady Cilento Hospital. Mrs QF WP walks into pre-consult with a female Junior Ophthalmologist and is asked "so are we here for any particular reason outside of your annual consultation"? to which my wife replied: "We saw Professor Gole in March and he wanted to see mini-QF WP in 6 months".

Then she was asked " Did they dilate his eyes at the last appointment?" to which Mrs QF WP replied "What does his file say?". The response "oh, we don't have the file, it's upstairs being scanned"

Mrs QF WP thought "WTF...what a joke - he's a patient today you'd think they'd have his file" :evil::evil::evil::evil:

She'll be having a word to Professor Gole. She wouldn't mind asking his thoughts on being referred to a private specialist, as whilst he is the best in Brisbane, his practice moved from RWCH to Lady Cilento as part of the state government edict and it's not working for us on many levels (distance, cost, spending 4+ hours in waiting room with the great unwashed)

 

[blackcat20]

Miss FM was asked at her first interview for a teaching job, why someone with her atar (year 12) and results from her science degree was going into teaching.....Quite sad that even the people in the profession seemed to feel it was an occupation for people who didn't have the scores to do anything else.

She could earn a lot more money by going into another profession but she really wants to be a teacher.

Try applying for teaching jobs with a PhD...they dont trust that you might actually want to be there.

 

[bosox76]

I've been around doctors for a long time.I have seen the God complex in doctors of both genders and of all ages.Does tend to be more likely in procedural specialties but probably because of the personality types that are attracted by those fields.

As a medico in a procedural specialty I've definitely seen my fair share of those with said God Complexes. Without generalising too much further they tend to be in the surgical side of medicine (which I'm not) rather than the physician side (which I am). Or maybe it's just my bias.
And while we all want the surgeon/specialist to be both technically proficient and "nice" I'd much rather my surgeon be great at the surgical side of things and not worry so much if they're rude etc. The touchy feely diagnostic side of medicine is best left to the physicians and GP's.
This is a major generalisation. Of course there are always exceptions and thankfully I know a few surgeons in most subspecialties who are both great surgeons and have great bed side manners (perks of being in the field) and I also know many physicians who I wouldn't give the time of day to.

 

[Quickstatus]

Actually private schools are heading in that area. Our school principal is a PhD in Art :shock: and chemistry teacher is PhD too

 

[Quickstatus]

Public hospital outpatient clinics and emergency waiting rooms are amongst the worst places to sit and wait. It's truly the great unwashed. But we take them as they come. No lounge dragons, everyone welcome including unlimited guests. No unpublished benefits - actually no benefits at all. Catering?. Can't eat or drink before seeing Dr - so that's sorted.

 

[Pushka]

I'm lucky at Emergency. As soon as I am Triaged I am in. At least, I think that's good. And always met with a gurney. They don't let me walk past the main door. Of course I've only presented with true ER conditions that I know will require admission.

The waiting rooms for appointments? Rather like watching ER.

 

[Quickstatus]

You must have some frequent flyer card?:mrgreen:

 

[puppysparkes]

My following 'GENERAL' comment is not directed at ANYBODY.

IMHO, public ED is not so bad, pre-diagnosis. Private facilities don't always have staff on hand. Plus you will wear the cost. If you are truly in the ED triage category of 1-4, staff in ANY facility will do their damn best to get you in for the required investigation/workup. Not withstanding other urgent presentations.

If it's post-op then flip a coin. Don't assume that because you pay for private insurance, you get 5 star hotel experience. The priority is saving a life. Frankly nothing else matters.

Please feel free to complain about your patient journey because you are alive to do so.

Disclaimer: I'm not a health care worker or practitioner

 

[Pushka]

Agree puppysparkes. When necessary I'm happy with ER. Have always found everyone there very helpful and pretty thorough.

When admitted I was in a single room. Next morning I was put into a mixed ward of four men and 2 women. I was shipped out of the single room because a prisoner was being brought in. I was peeved because there were multiple single rooms so not sure what the deal was. I know the nursing staff were peeved about it all.

I was going public when approached by an 'administrator?' Who said if I agreed to go 'Private' then RAH would pay the gap of $500 to my Health Insurance company. But no transfer back to a single room.

 

[JohnK]

My daughter was due to have her 2 months vaccines on Wednesday but these have now been postponed as she has been suffering from a cold.

She will be in Australia end of next week. I don't think she is covered under the National Immunisation program so would need to see GP, get prescription and go back to GP.

How long should I wait for her to get over her cold? And can anyone hazard a guess as to how much the following vaccines would cost? $150? The first one is ~$40 and the second one ~$20. Not sure about the rest.

- DTaP Diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
- Hib Haemophilus influenza type b vaccine
- IPV Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
- PCV Pneumococcal conjugate virus
- RV Rotavirus vaccine

And these need to be repeated at 4 months and then 6 months except for IPV and possibly RV

 

[puppysparkes]

Agree puppysparkes. When necessary I'm happy with ER. Have always found everyone there very helpful and pretty thorough.

When admitted I was in a single room. Next morning I was put into a mixed ward of four men and 2 women. I was shipped out of the single room because a prisoner was being brought in. I was peeved because there were multiple single rooms so not sure what the deal was. I know the nursing staff were peeved about it all.

I was going public when approached by an 'administrator?' Who said if I agreed to go 'Private' then RAH would pay the gap of $500 to my Health Insurance company. But no transfer back to a single room.

The issue of agreeing to private treatment will be on-going. It is a difficult topic in the ED (who plans for it!). I suggest it will depend on the triage scale and input from immediate family/practitioners at the time. I've seen cases where people felt/believe they were bullied into private treatment in a public facility. It's all subjective at the end of the day. Paper rock scissors?!

 

[Quickstatus]

JohnK, A bit late does not matter. Wait until well, then give it. If here in OZ just arrange via Dr

Best to ask question of cost at oharmacist they can give you a private price. I don't think it's hundreds.

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/IMM52-cnt
then click on the links in that page

 

[sinophile888]

I have all my fingers and toes crossed. Tomorrow, I see my cardiac electrophysiologist (cardiologist) to find out if I am again unbanned from cruising. Flying is OK especially if to Melbourne. In my favour, both of the cruises in which I am interested leave from Fremantle and go to Melbourne. One also returns to Fremantle.

 

[cove]

Losing a second member of our Christmas carol singers will hurt. I just feel a bit gutted that another one of our champagne and red wine drinkers has passed away. We won't be as loud with our rendition of Jerusalem this year which may please the neighbours of course.
We really need to bank the good times with great food,great drinks and great company.

 

[wandering_fred]

...
I was going public when approached by an 'administrator?' Who said if I agreed to go 'Private' then RAH would pay the gap of $500 to my Health Insurance company. But no transfer back to a single room.

A big issue locally. The WA government just rebuilt the local public hospital (after a lot (30+) of years). No increase in the number of beds, though support facilities are (likely) better. Though radiology has already had to add back the off site (ie old) operation. There is no private patient queue and no gestures were made to permit private additions when planning was in progress and there were no plans made for easier future public extensions (ie adding a floor).

As far as using it as a private facility in a public hospital, it would be my position that
1. Reasonable hospital gaps on insurance are "forgiven" as "known" policy.
2. A percentage (2/3 ?) of the facility use fees paid by insurance are transparently used to expand the budget for elective surgeries.

Oh yes, Perth hospitals (and most specialists) are 400 km away. Up and back can be done in a day but it is a long day requiring a mid-day appointment.

It is a pet peeve so forgive my wandering

Fred

 

[Pushka]

Our new RAH hopefully to be opened next year (google how expensive it is) has only single rooms. It takes no more patients than the current RAH. They closed off wards in the old RAH to get that result. Robotics will be used for all sorts of functions. Unfortunately they didn't consider housing patient records on site and the weight is too much for the floors so they will be hosted elsewhere. This means that the files will be transported from the external site. But our PAS system is creating issues - eg DNR orders. I think we are going to be in a bit of a pickle.

 

[Quickstatus]

Our new RAH hopefully to be opened next year (google how expensive it is) has only single rooms. It takes no more patients than the current RAH. They closed off wards in the old RAH to get that result. Robotics will be used for all sorts of functions. Unfortunately they didn't consider housing patient records on site and the weight is too much for the floors so they will be hosted elsewhere. This means that the files will be transported from the external site. But our PAS system is creating issues - eg DNR orders. I think we are going to be in a bit of a pickle.

Nothing new, heard it all before unfortunately. Too much weight for floor? - just spin. So they Store it offsite where the floor can take the weight?
Hope it has good electricity backup

Like most public infrastructure - overly expensive. Here in Sydney a private hospital was built at the same time as a public hospital. Guess which one cost the most on a per sqm basis for just the building shell (before the equipment)on an easy building site.