Bob
Barker and I have one thing in common. That is, no one is into our
games. Well all I can say is that it's a good thing nobody played
and won because the winner was going to get a FREE all expenses paid
trip to sunny southern Spain. Not really, but it was worth a shot
at making you feel guilty for not posting a guess. And since I know
you're all curious as to what was missing off that hospital tray from my last post, I'll tell you.
Yes,
here in the public hospital apparently giving patients a beverage
with their meal is considered 'excessive'. It shocked the hell
outta' me surprised me too. When I was admitted for a week
earlier during this pregnancy I learned the BYOB rule the hard way.
Now wiser, I had Joe bring me half a dozen 2 liter bottles of the
bubbly to keep me hydrated.
Basically, the differences between my experiences in American hospitals versus those here in Spain are really more cosmetic than anything else. Granted, water is kind of a big deal in terms of nutrition but I think I can explain it.
You
see here, the culture is such that if you have a loved one admitted
at least one family member will stay bedside and keep vigil. If
you're a gypsy, then you can multiply that by about 5 or 6 family
members. No matter what though, your family will be here. There is
no denying it and you have no choice in the matter because you are
the 'not well' one. In having that family member bedside, you now
have an automatic nurse's aid. It's your family member who will help
you to the bathroom, help you to shower, help you get up and out of
bed, help you change your clothes, and yes, get you that bottle of
water when you need it. The nurses here are more focused on
administering meds, updating their charts, and seeing that floor
rules are being followed. They are not your mother, not your sister,
and definitely not your waitress so don't even think about asking.
Additional examples of how the fat is trimmed here include the following:
-PAY-AS-YOU-GO TV CARDS
10 euros buys you 10 hours of tv programming
-SHARED ROOMS
Birthing suite? Uhm, what's that? When it's time you'll be wheeled
down to the delivery room. See No Delivery Service below.
-NO OPEN SNACK BAR/BEVERAGE STATIONS
-LIMITED TRANSPORTATION
this floor has 2 or 3 wheelchairs which means you may have to wait an extra 5- 10 minutes to go down for that ultrasound, to see your baby or to go pump
-NO DELIVERY SERVICE
If you want a service, you have to go to its location because they don't come to you. For example, there's a lactation room with 6 Medela
breast pumps available daily from 8am-midnight. Wanna pump? Fine,
come on down. But they won't be bringing one to your bedside.
For
those who want more pampering there is private insurance which will
net you a more country club experience but should complications arise
be prepared to be shipped off to the public hospital because that's
where all the specialists are. Is it third world? Hardly. But it
is different. Once you figure out the game rules, it's really
astonishing at how easily it all flows with what some might say is so
little. And the best part is that it's available to everyone at the
same bargain price: free. There are no copays. There are no more
calls to Blue Cross Blue Shield to fight over prescription coverage
or to explain why an extra ultrasound is needed. Here the doctor
calls the shots not the claims agent.
This
isn't to say that Spaniards don't pay for their medical care though.
We do considerably more in taxes of which
a hefty sum goes to healthcare. So yeah, there is a cost
make no mistake. And sadly, I used to be one of those who said no way
to the notion of my tax dollars going to pay for somebody else's
healthcare. Why should I have to pay to get YOUR (insert health
issue) treated? Sorry, not my problem. This coming from the girl
who had a sweet insurance package from work but also one that cost me
time I'll never get back with my three little ones because with my
husband being self employed there was no other choice but to work.
Had I not worked we would have never been able to afford coverage for
our family being that two of the kids have a preexisting condition.
No way. Never. So now, just a year into our new life in Spain I'm
singing a different song. Way different. And I like it.
Why do they need to advertise?
That right there says it all. Doesn't it?
I don't see how, with respect to the medical system, 'socialism' is a bad thing. Medical treatment is considered a basic right by many in Europe. By that I don't mean Accident & Emergency, we'll simply stitch you up and send you back out into the world. It means that, if you get sick, then you will get treatment. It might not be "the best", "the fastest" or "the newest" treatment but you will be looked after. You pay into the collective fund throughout your life knowing that what you pay as a young person will typically be used to treat older sicker people. As you age, you gradually become sicker and make more use of the same system. Hopefully, there are still enough young people paying in to ensure that the system still works this way. If you're lucky then you don't get sick and you never need to use the medical system. Money down the drain? No, a warm fuzzy feeling from knowing that you've made your contribution to society and that, like any insurance, you would have been covered if something bad had happened.
ReplyDeleteAs I see it, the US system of private medical care (medical care for profit not as a basic right) and insurance companies seriously distorts things. To become a doctor costs serious money (in the US) which doctors need to recoup. Insurance costs money. Doctors figure, well the insurance company is paying for this so I'll give you the premium drugs and treatment, etc. The insurance company fights everything to keep the cost to them down, maybe at the expense of your personal treatment. At every point this has become all about money, not health care.
At this stage in it's development, there is no way that you'll be able to introduce a 'socialist' medical system, but I'm so glad that we don't have the US-style of health care in Europe.
Well said, Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteNot too long ago I listend to an interview with Irish President, Michael Higgins. Did you catch it? He was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And what became crystal clear (and that you as well make mention of) is that above and beyone hospitals, insurance companies, and medical 'systems' is that we're dealing with a cultural value. A cultural value that sadly, many Americans don't share.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5OWRRJh-PI
Here's my grand Los Angeles (oh yeah) birthing experience. When we toured the "Birthing Center" at UCLA and met the midwives, they showed us these incredible private rooms with sound systems where you could play your cd of ocean sounds or zen chimes. There was a hot tub where your baby could just 'float to the service' into this world. "They actually swim up for their first breath," they said. Fast forward a few months later, I'm in labor, show up and there is no room at the inn. All the rooms are booked. So, I'm huffin and puffin in a fucking utility closet. I'm not kidding. A closet. And it's adjacent to the waiting room, so I hear people commenting on my moans, like, "Wow, sucks to be her!" As I'm pushing Froggy out of my vajayjay, in the hallway, the hallway!, they finally whisk me into a room. No time for birthing balls or that zen shit, just pop, out comes a baby. I could have been in a barn. No drugs, no hot tub, just $12,000 for one night in a utility closet. And I'll never forget the midwife (she was fantastic). I was in so much pain and kept asking when my room would be ready and she said, "Honey, whether you're here or there, you'll still be in labor." Indeed.
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