May 28, 2001 05:45 PM
2099 Views
I am writing concerning the care given in American Hospitals. I have close ties to the medical system and have noticed in the past few years the general decline in care given to the general public.
What has contributed to the decline in quality care? Hospitals have become a multimillion dollar business with the sole purpose of turning a profit. In doing so, many care institutions have cut staff, increased patient loads and provide the minimal care needed. Nursing staff have been given more responsibilities and are being burned out at alarming rates. Nursing assistants are paid poorly for back breaking work. Even housekeeping staff has been cut to the bare minimum causing serious delays in making you comfortable.
When patient loads increase that means your care will decrease. A nurse can only be in one place at one time. Most nurses want to provide quality care for their patients but due to time limits this is an impossibility. This also is the reality for nursing assistants and housecleaning.
Insurance or the lack of it also dictates what treatment you will receive. Insurance companies are refusing to pay for treatments necessary for your recovery or treatment. Those lacking insurance or have poor coverage get nominal care at best. Health care specialist hands are tied due to insurance restrictions.
Nurses are given much more responsibility in today's hospital and many jobs performed by nurses in the past are being done by nursing assistants. I don't want to be critical of these individuals because many are earnest and do an excellent job. However, many are also ill-equipped to perform their duties. As a way of cutting welfare rolls, many recipients are literally thrown into the field with little desire to be in the health field. Thus lackluster care. I have witnesses nursing assistants incapable of taking blood pressures, vital signs and temperatures! All very basic procedures to give quality care. I have also witnesses plebotomist(those who take blood) unable to draw blood and sticking the patient several times causing stress and trauma. In reality, procedure calls for two sticks only and then the phlebotomist is required to get help.
Hospital care is becoming a luxury too many can ill afford. General care has taken a turn for the worst and if we don't protest and demand quality care for all then it will only get worse.
