Luxuries of Hospitals
Medical treatment in the past has been primarily focused on treating patients in a safe, sterile environment and on treating the patients' illnesses.
The hospital environment was never a high priority in the past leading to the perception of hospitals being “institutional” and impersonal.
The trend now and for the future seems far from institutional!
Hospitals are now competing in not only health delivery, but also in appearance and luxuries.
An example is the Memorial Hermann System in Texas. They recently compiled the top 10 trends in hospitals of the future. What's in and What's out!
1. Betsy Johnson PJ's to replace the open back hospital gowns
2. Gourmet chefs and room service served promptly to replace bland food served at 8 a.m., noon and 5 p.m.
3. Hands-free, wireless Vocera communication devices enabling
instant connectivity with others anywhere in the hospital rather than overhead paging
4. Paperless (save a life / save a tree) vs. file rooms
5. Operating room tracking patients through the surgical process via a large display screen vs. Pacing the halls and waiting in pre-op/post-op areas
6. Healing gardens, meditation rooms, music and massage therapy vs. old rooms with white institutional walls
7. Pet therapy vs. No pets allowed
8. Marble jacuzzi tubs vs. postage-sized shower stalls
9. All private rooms/concierge services vs. Semi-private rooms and isolation from daily activities
10. Aromatherapy vs. Rubbing alcohol and Disinfectant
With the average length of stay in a hospital for most patients ranging 2-4 days, how can these things contribute to lowering our healthcare costs?
I’d like to ask the people who continually demand such services this question;
Who is obligated to pay for these luxuries?
The hospital environment was never a high priority in the past leading to the perception of hospitals being “institutional” and impersonal.
The trend now and for the future seems far from institutional!
Hospitals are now competing in not only health delivery, but also in appearance and luxuries.
An example is the Memorial Hermann System in Texas. They recently compiled the top 10 trends in hospitals of the future. What's in and What's out!
1. Betsy Johnson PJ's to replace the open back hospital gowns
2. Gourmet chefs and room service served promptly to replace bland food served at 8 a.m., noon and 5 p.m.
3. Hands-free, wireless Vocera communication devices enabling
instant connectivity with others anywhere in the hospital rather than overhead paging
4. Paperless (save a life / save a tree) vs. file rooms
5. Operating room tracking patients through the surgical process via a large display screen vs. Pacing the halls and waiting in pre-op/post-op areas
6. Healing gardens, meditation rooms, music and massage therapy vs. old rooms with white institutional walls
7. Pet therapy vs. No pets allowed
8. Marble jacuzzi tubs vs. postage-sized shower stalls
9. All private rooms/concierge services vs. Semi-private rooms and isolation from daily activities
10. Aromatherapy vs. Rubbing alcohol and Disinfectant
With the average length of stay in a hospital for most patients ranging 2-4 days, how can these things contribute to lowering our healthcare costs?
I’d like to ask the people who continually demand such services this question;
Who is obligated to pay for these luxuries?
posted by Anonymous at 6:00 AM
18 Comments:
I think that all private rooms would cut down on infections which would be a good thing. If all hospitals only had private rooms insurances would have to pay for them. A lot of the other things are offer in small doses on Skilled Nursing Units were patients stay for several weeks to a year. The pet therapy the jaduzzi tubs and ever the wireless communication devices would be nice so you could rest in the hospital. We all know that paperless never works computers go down and we need a paper trail. All rooms have there own oder depending on why you came into the hospital vomiting, diarrhea, surgery, so spend the money on the real workers the employees, not the CEO.
I think luxuries are a good idea in hospitals. After all, they're available to everyone on an equal opportunity basis. All you have to do to take advantage of them is get sick.
Some of those amenities are nice but not necessary. My first thought was wow that sounds great, but when you bring in the question about money it does not make sense.
Pet therapy is already in place and is a great tool not only for the patients mind, but also for physical therapy. My dog is a therapy dog and I have seen therapy dogs do wonderful things for brain injury patients, mentally disabled, kids, etc. There is no cost to the hospital most dogs and owners have to be a member of an organization that provides liability insurance.
As far as paperless, the Veterinary Clinic I work at is in the thought process of going paperless. It really isn't all that expensive and will save money on employee cost and aggravation. I would be lying if I didn't say we have some concerns like liability, training, human error, etc. I also realize we are a small business and the cost and concerns for the hospital are far greater, but as technology improves I don’t see it as impossible or expensive.
I have been in the hospital and my only real complaint is you do not get any rest. How are you suppose to recover if someone is your room every 15 mins? The food is not very good, but my husband or family member would bring me something from the outside. I will admit I am a picky eater and really can’t fault the hospital. Other than the no sleep it wasn't that uncomfortable that healthcare needs the added costs associated with the amenities. I wouldn’t complain if they had nice PJs instead of those open back gowns.
Are all of you people willing to pay for these things out of your pocket.
None of this is FREE
The "market" drives these things. Sane organizations don't make investments like that unless they expect them to pay off. The reality is that none of us want to go back to open wards with rows of beds and most people who have a choice want private rooms. Sure, a lot of that is way beyone essential, but how many of us only want basic transportation rather than a nicer car...or more televisions in a house than there are people...or spiffy looking clothes. We are a society of consumers and we like our luxury if we can get it.
That's fine, then start paying for these things when you get them and don't make the rest of insurance paying patients pay for your luxuries. Your nice car and nice clothes are paid for by WHO??
All those luxuries sound nice. I'll take them!
What I am about to propose is contrary to luxuries, but it does addresss the cost of healthcare.
The single biggest impact to the budget of a healthcare facility is the payroll. If we could reduce the cost of that one single item, the cost of a hospital stay would be more bearable for those without insurance. And who knows, insurance rates themselves might also become affordable if the per diem cost for a hospital stay is reduced.
In India, when a patient is admitted to the hospital, a family member is responsible for staying at the hospital with the patient. The family member assumes the personal care needs of the patient, i.e., bathing, turning, feeding, linen changes, etc.,. It is required that someone other than staff in the institution provide this care...and it is not an option.
Why do we think a hospital stay should be a luxury? Let's face reality. THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK! WHAT IS LUXURIOUS ABOUT THAT?
I realize we live in a different culture. But maybe we need to start thinking. Maybe we need to accept responsibility for our own determination.
I've been a patient several times at Brigham & Women in Boston and most of the "luxuries" you list are available there. I really never thought of those things as luxurious though - just good medicine. If the goal is wellness, recovery, etc, then you do what works. Especially wireless communication devices which are standard there for years. It makes it much more efficient for the nurses and that provides better care - no? Gourmet food...why not? I'm thinking the folks who complain have not been patients much.
If you don't like the backless gowns then bring your own in.I'm for all private rooms.No one needs a roommate when they are sick.Wireless network that will cut down the over head page...Amen. Who wants to hear the nurse being called to the desk every 5 minutes for a phone call.
I'm sorry these luxuries are not enough for me, I want my oxygen scented too.
I don't have to share a bedroom when I feel good not even my spouse if I choose not to, why should I be forced to share it with a complete stranger when I'm sick. What is more aggravating is you are not even given a choice, in some cases. I feel that this is forced upon people when there are empty rooms available in the hospital. I have walked by empty rooms while patients are 2 in a room.
to the last post...let me know when there is an empty room at floyd. we have been off and on diversion for months now.who to say that the room is empty but is waiting on emgerency dept admit or surgical admit...sharing rooms does suck but do you think staff enjoys it too??? i'm all for private rooms. the hospital will eventually have all private rooms but it will be awhile before that happens.
they say that americans are spoiled and greedy people who want anything and everything we can get but it's the immigrants and uninsured who usually do the most complaining. they come into the hospital expecting handouts and service with a smile. they demand more, more, more. they want everything free while we have to work to pay for their demands.
Oh please..your lucky to get a room at hospitals with all the frequent fliers in there wanting there pain fix.Lets add luxuries so that they never want to leave.It will be a vacation with insurance or taxpayers footing the bill.
Statement is true, the Director of Finance had first hand participation in the destruction of the hospital finances and while she may have been directed by the ex CFO, she did not do anything about it. Others brought up Red flags and nothing was done about it. The Director of Finance cant be trusted and should not be in any role, including interim CFO
Hmmm....anonymous 3:29....can anyone say s**t stirrer? Geez, give it a rest.
I'm sorry but the hospital is not the HILTON. It is hard enough to take care of your critically ill paitents, let alone the 50 family members in the waiting room wanting coffee and cokes from the nurses station. A lot of times we are so busy with taking care of the families and catering to their every need that we can't take care of their own family members. I believe in giving excellent care but we are trying to save lives, not run a spa!
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