My father had surgery last March related to Pancreatic Cancer. The surgery was a success, but of course, it has been a tough time for him ever since. Our family, while doing our best to ruin our health, have managed to avoid serious illnesses or surgeries until this year.
One thing I've noticed as I've been present in the hospital, in the nursing home and at home is the redunancy of healthcare workers. My parents have to sit there and endlessly be asked the same questions. If shifts change, they do the interview about his health history all over again.
Today, I sat in on a session with a home health care worker who says in the midst of a multiple time of filling out this same health history booklet that "I think I'm going to Xerox this so we don't have to do this every time."
Really! Now there's an idea.
I am quickly learning how screwed up health providers are and inefficient in delivering their services. I understand some things take time and you can't microwave test results, but asking my dad his health history every single time a health provider shows up for some service is an incredible waste of time and money.
Of course, her agency gets to bill medicare for 2 hours of checking vitals and filling out his health history for the umpteenth time.
And this system is so overwhelmed, here's certainly one reason why. I imagine one day it is just going to implode before true reform is explored.