When healing gets serious

When healing get serious:

Many of the entries in our discussion deal with everyday problems, such as colds and flu. But there are also entries on more serious and chronic diseases. For these, we often put forth treatments that require a hospital stay.
  Going to hospital is a hard business. None of us wants to be there. No matter how much the personnel work at making it a warm and friendly environment (and some try harder than others), it's still a place with too many negative connections and implications. In our mind's eye, none of us sees ourselves as being hospital bound. And yet, when a serious condition hits, go we must.
  What you cannot allow yourself to do is to surrender to the situation. Do not hand yourself over to the doctors and nurses and say, 'Do what you must'. Now, more than ever, you need to be assertive--to feel that you are a partner in the decisions and the main force behind your healing. It's not easy--being in a hospital bed can sap you of energy and spirit. But it shouldn't hinder you thoughts or
determination. So be as strong as you can and you will emerge faster, healthier and with a sense of control.

Finding the best hospital
In choosing a facility, the most common error is to settle for the closest one. Seeking out a first-rate medical centre, even if it means travelling further, extra expense or switching doctors, could be one of the most  important decisions you make.

  Hospitals treat a variety of problems. Some hospitals are centres for particular specialities, such as heart surgery or transplants, but most are general hospitals. Here are some issues to explore:
Teaching hospital. Is this a teaching hospital?

• Teaching hospitals are usually associated with universites. While that might mean visits from medical students it can also mean you have

                                      HEALTH INSURANCE
Australia and New Zealand both have excellent public and private health-care systems. Opting for private health insurance often comes down to a question of comfort, cost and convenience.

AustraliaIn Australia there is a two-tiered health system-public and private.

• Public health care. If you have a Medicare card you can claim a rebate from the government when you attend your general practitioner. This rebate will pay part of the cost of your visit. Some doctors 'bulk bill'. This means that these doctors receive the money directly from the government and it will cost you nothing at the time of the visit. As a public patient, you will also be able to access free care at any public hospital for services such as outpatient clinics, elective and emergency surgery and specialist care. To pay for this, the federal government imposes a levy on the total taxable income of every wage earner in Australia. This levy is higher for those higher income earners who choose not to take out private health insurance.
• Private health insurance. Private health care can be generally divided into two types--ancillary and hospital. Ancillary cover is for cost incurred outside a hospital setting as an outpatient. It covers all or part of a large range of health services such as physiotherapists, optometrists, psychologists and ambulance travel.  Hospital cover is designed to pay for costs incurred when you stay in a public hospital as a private patient or, more commonly when you elect to stay in a private hospital. Hospital cover will fund all or some of your accommodation costs whether you choose a public or private hospital, and you will be able to choose as public or private hospital commonly means you won't have to wait for a non-urgent or elective procedure, such as a hip replacement, to be done, which is often the case in the public system. Taking out private health insurance with an approved provider will also mean that you are eligible for a 30 percent rebate on your annual health fund premiums. But be warned--unless you take out top level cover (for which you pay high premiums) chances are you will still have bills for excess payments and specialists' gap fees to pay at the end of your hospital visit.
• Health insurers. There are a multitude of health insurers in Australia with many different schemes, each offering different benefits for different services. Each has a range of exclusions, caps and waiting times. You should shop around to find an insurer to suit you.

New Zealand
In New Zealand there is also a parallel system of private and public health services. Having private health insurance enables you to be treated in a private hospital, which will avoid waiting lists at public hospitals for any non-urgent surgery or medical care.

• New Zealand's government scheme. New Zealand also has a specific government-run scheme to cover those who suffer accidental injuries. Health problems that arise out of an accident are subsidised through the Accident Compensation Corporation or ACC. This scheme covers everyone in New Zealand, whether a citizen, resident or temporary visitor.
• Other health insurance options. You are able to obtain health insurance in New Zealand that, along with private hospital costs, covers the cost of visiting your family doctor. This is particularly important as the government subsidies only certain GP visits, such as those for children, for people who need frequent health care or for those on low incomes. Recently this has been changing with the establishment of primary health organisations(PHOs) that aim to deliver primary health-care services to the community, in many cases at a lower cost than has been previously available. This will mainly affect lower income earners. Patients not in that category will not receive subsidised care.

more ready access to the latest medical knowledge and techniques.

• Experience. Has the hospital been successful in treating conditions like yours? How often does it provide the type of care you need? High volume is linked to faster recovery, lower complication and mortality rates and often to lower costs.
• Quality. What's the background of the surgical team? The nurse per patient ratio? Are there social workers and patient advocates? Does the facility look generally clean?
• Hospital Programs. What programs does the hospital provide post-discharge? Services such as hydrotherapy or cardiac rehabilitation programs can considerably aid your recovery.
• Timing. Can you choose when to schedule your stay? If so, try to avoid holidays when hospitals tend to be short-staffed, and steer clear of teaching hospitals in early January, when residents begin their formal training.

Pay attention to details
When you are in hospital, either you or a family member should keep a log of all doctor visits, drugs, tests and services to check against later. If you are a private patient you will be billed for each of these individual services.
  Billing mistakes do happen. If you think one has occurred, start by immediately alerting the hospital's patient accounts supervisor and your insurance company.

Note:  Watch Your Doctor Might Not Tell You About