MARCH/APRIL 2016
Choosing a Hospital
Consider several factors when
selecting a treatment venue
by Jean Jeffers, Staff Writer
What’s in a name?
A name you recognize and trust
is by far the best choice when
looking for a hospital for yourself
or a loved one.
What factors should you consider when choosing a hospital for
medical care, surgery or a serious
illness? Sometimes your choices
are limited. Your health insurance
may dictate the hospital you must
use or you may have to go to the
place where your doctor practices and is covered by insurance.
Going out of network is always
your right, but it may be costly.
When you have a choice between
hospitals, you need to know how
to choose wisely. Here are some
parameters to follow:
• Check the appearance of the
hospital. Is it clean? Are the
nurses’ stations in order?
Do the patient rooms have
adequate light, space and
ventilation?
• Does the hospital have a
friendly atmosphere? Does it
seem to be an inviting place?
• Ask your doctor what hospital
he favors and why.
• Ask your friends and neighbors for suggestions. What
were their past experiences
with a certain hospital?
• Look at how the staff interacts.
How do the doctors treat the
nurses?
• Is the staff rushed and busy,
barely recognizing you, or is
the staff generally solicitous
of your wishes, needs and
feelings?
Grace
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There are also some safety and
practical considerations when selecting a hospital. These include:
1. the infection rate and how it
compares with national ratings;
2. the average length of stay and
the hospital’s percentage of
readmissions;
3. the hospital’s accreditation, its
rating and follow-up care; and
4. the average cost compared to
other hospitals.
All this information is generally
available from the hospital. An
additional consideration may be
finding out if the hospital has the
provision to assist low-income
patients.
Sometimes you may have access to a hospital affiliated with
a certain religion or a non-profit.
These generally are good choices.
Also, you may be able to go to
a teaching hospital. This choice
gives you the advantage of access
to professors, renowned specialists and cutting-edge programs.
Occasionally, a patient may
need a specialty hospital such as
one for cancer treatment or mental health. If the patient doesn’t
live close to a big city or a medical
center, there may be travel and
lodging costs that insurance will
not pay.
When you have a
choice between
hospitals, you
need to know how
to choose wisely.