A story of change....
As of February 1, a hospital system (lets call it Hospital System B) took over one of the two hospital systems (lets call it Hospital System A) in this area.
Hospital system A first opened in 1925. It was a Catholic health care ministry. There were crucifixes in the hospital rooms. There was be a daily prayer announcement around 7am each morning.
In 1999 they joined another system, and in 2017 took on their name. Many people in our area, me included, felt the care deteriorated after 2017. Their billing system certainly deteriorated, which is a story for another day. (This is not a put down of the doctors and employees. I believe the problems originated at a higher level.)
The parent of System A was a big outfit, operating in some 22 states as of 2017. I believe System A was their only hospital in New York State. I had a lot of experience with doctors in System A. Sadly, a number of them retired during or after COVID, something that is happening nationwide.
Last year, when it was announced that System A would be acquired by System B, many local people rejoiced. System B has a good reputation. Of course, there would be growing pains. And layoffs.
Fast forward to early March, when I received a letter reminding me I needed to make an appointment for my annual mammogram.
I always scheduled it online so I tried to do it. But appointment systems were changing over to System B's, and it was hard to find the link. I finally did find it, and made the appointment.
Last week, I got a call asking me to preregister. This wasn't a surprise; System A preferred that you preregister so your appointment was verified and they had your current information. Apparently, System B was going to do the same thing. Fine. But imagine my surprise when the preregistration rep mentioned where my appointment was. It wasn't for where I had scheduled. I checked the verification I received from them. I had registered for the location I wanted.
But no one told the computer.
If the rep hadn't mentioned the location, I would have gone to the wrong office, several miles away, and would have had to remake the appointment. I had never run into this with System A. (The rep immediately offered, incidentally, to see if they could get me in at the location I wanted).
At the test, I was pleasantly surprised when the nurse asked me some questions about family history. She explained it was to ascertain my risk, and if I was considered high risk, they would contact me to discuss and present options for further testing. They also asked if I had undergone certain genetic testing. Hmmm.
I happen to have ancestry that puts me at a higher than normal risk of certain genetic mutations. No one has ever offered that testing. I found out that Medicare only has limited coverage for such testing.
That questionnaire was a pleasant surprise, though.
Interestingly, the day after the procedure, I received an email questionnaire from System B, something System A had never done, and I decided I would mention this issue. There was a box to check if I wanted this information shared with staff. I did.
Now I'll be curious to see if there are further growing pains, as the two systems mesh into one. And, of course, I wonder if anything will come from my complaint. I hope I was the only person this happened to.
...too often health care isn't about care, but about $$$$$!
ReplyDeleteTrust me, there will be plenty of growing pains, and you're almost certainly not the only one the problem has happened to. Computer systems have a way of going haywire in times like these. They usually work themselves out in a year or so...
ReplyDeleteMy comment wouldn't submit: Here it is again:
ReplyDeleteI haven't had to deal with merger pains in my health system. But my cousin had the same issues as you when her local hospital was purchased by a national chain. All they care about is their bottom line.
So far so good with mine. We have to hospitals, and their related outpatient clinics. One is Catholic too, and that hospital has SO many crucifixes! There urgent care is down the street from me, so that's where I go, when I need urgent care. My insurance doesn't care.
ReplyDeleteYou were probably one of a long list of patients with issues. It might be best if you weren't alone, as one person might not hurry a fix along!
I'd be nice if such things went smoothly, but of course they do not. Glad something good came out of it, though.
ReplyDeleteAs simeone who shares your ethnic ancestry and got the genetic testing done, I recommend that you seriously consider getting it done. It’s a simple test, filling out the paperwork takes longer than the actual test,
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that Medicare pays only if you have cancer, which I have been fortunate in not having. So far, no one has contacted me about the questionnaire I was asked to fill out Friday. We'll see.
DeleteTom is right, everything is about money. I heard once an absurd idea about the 'profitability' of a hospital. Really? The only criteria for a good hospital is how many people get better after going there, being ill.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, have you read 'The Biology of Belief' by Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D ? Maybe you can find the pdf on line. After I read it, all my ideas about genetics and the illness chain between ancestors and us has been changed dramatically. Trust me, you will be amazed!
All the best!❤️😘