The above is from a quote in an article about television news personality John Stossel, when he revealed that he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
The cancer isn’t really what’s bothering him. It’s the service he was receiving this week at a New York hospital.
He wrote:
“My doctors tell me my growth was caught early and I’ll be fine,” he wrote. “Soon I will barely notice that a fifth of my lung is gone. I believe them. After all, I’m at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. U.S. News & World Report ranked it No. 1 in New York. I get excellent medical care here.
“But as a consumer reporter, I have to say, the hospital’s customer service stinks. Doctors keep me waiting for hours, and no one bothers to call or email to say, ‘I’m running late.’ Few doctors give out their email address. Patients can’t communicate using modern technology.
“I get X-rays, EKG tests, echocardiograms, blood tests. Are all needed? I doubt it. But no one discusses that with me or mentions the cost. Why would they? The patient rarely pays directly. Government or insurance companies pay.”
“Customer service is sclerotic because hospitals are largely socialist bureaucracies,” Stossel added. “Instead of answering to consumers, which forces businesses to be nimble, hospitals report to government, lawyers and insurance companies.”
Many would agree that Stossel makes excellent points. Just about every entity that delivers healthcare services can be placed in the same category as hospitals with Stossel’s comment about who they report to. It’s complicated, sometimes messy and nearly always complex.
Click here to read the entire Washington Post article.
Capitol Imaging Services does our very best to keep things as simple as possible. We pride ourselves on being on-time with appointments. Sometimes, honestly, we fall short due to a number of reasons from equipment problems to people themselves arriving late, which then backs us up — although we often work to catch up and put us back on schedule. Our technologists do an excellent job of treating people with compassion and care, understanding that an imaging exam can often cause anxiety, worry and fear.
We have an extensive department of financial services personnel that will assist you in determining insurance benefits and identifying any fees that are not covered that would need to be paid by the person having the test. We make it simple to contact us and ask for a price for the exam, understanding what it could be through insurance or through paying it themselves.
Hospitals, doctors and nursing staff often face a very difficult task. We realize that. That’s why we say that when it is not urgent or an emergency, and a medical imaging test is needed, people have the choice to avoid the hospital atmosphere and visit a Capitol Imaging Services affiliate center. With our relaxed, quieter outpatient environments and excellent technology, people realize they do not sacrifice quality for cost. They can enjoy both.
Click the REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT button (above right) to send us an email requesting assistance. A Capitol Imaging Services associate will contact you to arrange your visit.
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