HORSE PIDDLE
So I just got out of the hospital after two days of tests and such. Last Tuesday evening, I'd had some relatively sever chest pains. They abated considerably, but persisted for a couple of days, so I decided to avail of my insurance contributions for the first time, like, ever and went to an internist for some tests. He said my EKG was "irregular" and admitted me to the Florida Hospital Celebration.
The Florida Hospital Celebration is a trip. Rather than the sterile, sanitized feel of most hospitals, this looks more like an extended hotel lobby with lots of alcoves - plants, aquaria, mediocre art, vending plazas, indirect lighting, earth-toned carpeting and granite tiles. And there are no white (or pale blue/green) uniforms. Everyone wears combinations of khaki, burgundy, navy, and/or dark green, depending on their role. Even the food is decent, if hospital bland.
But, what the hell is up with the medical industry costs? They've become far worse than I'd imagined. About eight years ago, I spent a week in the hospital (again for tests arising from chest pains) - eight days and seven nights - in Ireland, primarily covered by their national health. And the whole thing - the room and board, meds, stress tests, EKGs, x-rays, heart catheterization, continuous bloodwork - at probably the best hospital in Dublin - cost me less than the room alone at FHC would cost for one night. The whole thing (two days, one night plus tests) would've cost about fifteen times more than a week in an Irish hospital. Amazing what a little lobbying can do.
Aaanyway, the tests were fairly inconclusive: "nothing immediately threatening" and an aspirin prescrition. Plus some nitroglycerin tablets in the event of further chest pains.
The Florida Hospital Celebration is a trip. Rather than the sterile, sanitized feel of most hospitals, this looks more like an extended hotel lobby with lots of alcoves - plants, aquaria, mediocre art, vending plazas, indirect lighting, earth-toned carpeting and granite tiles. And there are no white (or pale blue/green) uniforms. Everyone wears combinations of khaki, burgundy, navy, and/or dark green, depending on their role. Even the food is decent, if hospital bland.
But, what the hell is up with the medical industry costs? They've become far worse than I'd imagined. About eight years ago, I spent a week in the hospital (again for tests arising from chest pains) - eight days and seven nights - in Ireland, primarily covered by their national health. And the whole thing - the room and board, meds, stress tests, EKGs, x-rays, heart catheterization, continuous bloodwork - at probably the best hospital in Dublin - cost me less than the room alone at FHC would cost for one night. The whole thing (two days, one night plus tests) would've cost about fifteen times more than a week in an Irish hospital. Amazing what a little lobbying can do.
Aaanyway, the tests were fairly inconclusive: "nothing immediately threatening" and an aspirin prescrition. Plus some nitroglycerin tablets in the event of further chest pains.