| This year alone, it is estimated that over | | | | operate?If your doctor was in your shoes, |
| 250,000 people | | | | who would he name? If he names someone at |
| | | | his own hospital, who would he name if no one |
| will die in hospitals because of medical | | | | was available at the hospital?8- Is surgery |
| errors. And to | | | | really necessary?Is it really needed? Or if |
| | | | you don't have the surgery, what will your |
| top this astounding figure, almost half of | | | | quality of life be?9- Can you perform my |
| patients have | | | | surgery as the first case in the morning?This |
| | | | may be your most important question because a |
| experienced a medical mistake to some degree | | | | fatiged doctor may put your health at a |
| in their life.Is it really safe going to the | | | | distinct disadvantage. You want a fresh |
| hospital?It's a frightening question, | | | | doctor who is alert and ready to operate.Many |
| especially when hospitals are | | | | of these questions are self explanatory but |
| | | | patients |
| supposed to help us, not hurt us.I have been | | | | |
| personally told by many doctors and nurses | | | | rarely ask. This puts them at greater |
| that it | | | | risk.It is also reported that over 150 |
| | | | million prescriptions |
| is better to get in and get out of hospitals | | | | |
| as quick as possible to avoid getting more | | | | require pharmacists to call back doctors for |
| sick or picking up other germs that can lead | | | | clarification. |
| to more serious conditions.But what really | | | | |
| shocked me the most, was the extent of the | | | | Whether it is because a pharmacist cannot |
| | | | read the doctor's |
| errors that occur at hospitals. Everything | | | | |
| from wrong | | | | handwriting, incompatibility to |
| | | | prescriptions patients are |
| diagnosis, to mistaken treatments due to | | | | |
| wrong prescriptions | | | | already taking, or patients allergic |
| | | | reactions to medications, |
| being filled out, to flat out | | | | |
| incompetence.Most of us take hospital care | | | | mistakes seem to be the norm.To combat this |
| for granted, but because of | | | | problem, patients (or a designated trustee) |
| | | | |
| incredibly fragmented record keeping, many | | | | need to keep a daily log of any medications |
| patients are put | | | | they have been |
| | | | |
| into life-threatening situations because of | | | | given. Don't expect the hospital's records |
| lack of | | | | to be accurate.Another problem that has made |
| | | | it difficult to get proper |
| communication between doctors and | | | | |
| pharmacists.So, the logical question must | | | | medical care is of how drugs like Vioxx and |
| be... What can I do to protect | | | | Celebrex could |
| | | | |
| myself at the hospital?If surgery is | | | | have been widely distributed for years |
| recommended, you want the best doctors that | | | | without any health |
| are | | | | |
| | | | warnings being issued. But is now come to |
| available.1- Make sure you receive the | | | | light that many |
| appropriate tests before surgery | | | | |
| | | | patients have suffered needless heart |
| is performed. It has been reported that over | | | | attacks and strokes |
| 57,000 deaths | | | | |
| | | | because the FDA let the drugs come to market |
| could be prevented if this were done.2- Get | | | | without the |
| a second opinion to confirm diagnosis. Many | | | | |
| patients | | | | proper amount of testing.Learn about your |
| | | | condition and be up-to-date about procedures, |
| have found that this second opinion has | | | | complications, and medications that relate to |
| uncovered important | | | | you in order to make the proper decisions |
| | | | regarding your health.You may think that this |
| information that was missed during the first | | | | has nothing to do with your financial |
| exam.Here are some questions you need to ask | | | | situation but it will loom large in your mind |
| the doctor to cover | | | | if it puts you in a financial hardship. If |
| | | | you cannot pay for the procedure, you may be |
| yourself and give you the best chance to | | | | limited with your options. This in turn may |
| come out alive.1- Are you experienced in this | | | | put you at a greater risk for sub-standard |
| procedure?You want to know not only how many | | | | care.A good mental attitude is required when |
| times a doctor has performed this procedure | | | | getting hospital care. But you must be |
| but for how long.2- Do you work with the same | | | | vigilant when it comes to care. Protect your |
| team?Doctors who work with the same team give | | | | |
| their patients a much better chance at | | | | |
| recovery if the team is experienced | | | | health and it will protect you.Barry |
| together.3- What is your recovery rate?Your | | | | Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money |
| doctor should know this. If not, it is your | | | | Man". |
| right to know from his participating | | | | |
| hospital.4- What are the risks?The doctor | | | | He is the author of two books called "How To |
| needs to be truthful in regards to risks. He | | | | Stop Wasting |
| should be able to define what your recovery | | | | |
| will be like, how long it will take to make a | | | | Money" and "The Saving Money Mindset", and |
| full recovery, or even if you are expected to | | | | has 15 years of |
| fully recover.5- What are the ranges in ages | | | | |
| of your patients?You want to know if your | | | | practical, real world experience saving huge |
| doctor works on patients like you or is this | | | | amounts of |
| case an extraordinary one for the doctor?7- | | | | |
| If he had to get this procedure, who would he | | | | cash every time he shops! |
| get to | | | | |
| | | | How much do you want to save? |