Crappy patients

[fishsticks2629]

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So I work in a hospital as an aid and today a few of the patients were complaining about little things, like not getting what they wanted for lunch, etc... It just erks me because all the patients either had no insurance or were on medicare/medicaid. How can you complain about something you are getting for free? These patients were def not thankful/grateful for even getting FREE healthcare.

Im not against free healthcare or providing patients with quality care, but how the hell can some of them be so picky with FREE SERVICE.. 😕.. These patients need to be grateful for what they have and be lucky they arent in a third world country where healthcare isnt free..

Im writing this from work and just needed to vent.. LOL

 

[Ursa]

I work at a federally qualified family health center that doesn't bill. Most of our patients have Medicare/Medicaid, or are self-pay (which means they get it for free, since we don't bill). While I too am amazed at what I see sometimes, you just have to get used to it. That's the nature of the beast.

also,

inb4

 

[azerkail]

yeah but you know what they say about bad doctors do you?

they lose all their patients.

 

[Ursa]

yeah but you know what they say about bad doctors do you?

they lose all their patients.

I approve.

 

[halethsonofhama]

I had one patient at my work come in as a "Cash Patient," agreeing to pay for all the work afterwards. We went over the pricing for each procedure and she agreed. With all of her injections, medications, physical etc... the bill was close to $1000. (She wanted the whole shabang)

After the visit she goes "you doctas make nuff money as it izzz! I dun hafta pay you one cent!" and then walks out the door.


But while I'm speaking of crappy patients. While I'm collecting the history/reason for a patients visit, she whips out a tupperware container with a massive log of ****. She thought it looked funny and wanted to go through it with me.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

So I work in a hospital as an aid and today a few of the patients were complaining about little things, like not getting what they wanted for lunch, etc... It just erks me because all the patients either had no insurance or were on medicare/medicaid. How can you complain about something you are getting for free? These patients were def not thankful/grateful for even getting FREE healthcare.

Im not against free healthcare or providing patients with quality care, but how the hell can some of them be so picky with FREE SERVICE.. 😕.. These patients need to be grateful for what they have and be lucky they arent in a third world country where healthcare isnt free..

Im writing this from work and just needed to vent.. LOL

word! poor people just need to shut the hell up!

 

[iusesharpies]

word! poor people just need to shut the hell up!

👍

 

[Kaustikos]

So I work in a hospital as an aid and today a few of the patients were complaining about little things, like not getting what they wanted for lunch, etc... It just erks me because all the patients either had no insurance or were on medicare/medicaid. How can you complain about something you are getting for free? These patients were def not thankful/grateful for even getting FREE healthcare.

Im not against free healthcare or providing patients with quality care, but how the hell can some of them be so picky with FREE SERVICE.. 😕.. These patients need to be grateful for what they have and be lucky they arent in a third world country where healthcare isnt free..

Im writing this from work and just needed to vent.. LOL

Welcome to the service industry? You need to just make light of the situation and it helps a lot. People are usually idiots and don't know any better; it's your job to not let it get to you.

I mod cars and don't charge to do installs and it always baffles me when people complain about minor things like how it took me an hour longer than a mechanic to do the install. Or that the garage we use isn't readily available for them at the most ridiculous times.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

In HS, I attended a private school and I remember alot of students complaining who were receiving a scholarship/tuition waiver to attend. It always annoyed me that they got this valuable education for free and yet complained about it.

But people are going to complain -- regardless if they pay for the service or if it is provided freely. People like complaining, like the attention, and also like getting the service that they want. People are also not feeling well when they are in the hospital, and are more likely to complain and feel crappy. As a physician or hospital volunteer/employee, you just have to smile and not take it personally.

 

[LizzyM]

So I work in a hospital as an aid and today a few of the patients were complaining about little things, like not getting what they wanted for lunch, etc... It just erks me because all the patients either had no insurance or were on medicare/medicaid. How can you complain about something you are getting for free? These patients were def not thankful/grateful for even getting FREE healthcare.

Im not against free healthcare or providing patients with quality care, but how the hell can some of them be so picky with FREE SERVICE.. 😕.. These patients need to be grateful for what they have and be lucky they arent in a third world country where healthcare isnt free..

Im writing this from work and just needed to vent.. LOL

Someone is paying for those patients' care, either the taxpayers or the donors who provided the hospital's endowment.

If you feel called to be a physician, you are called to care for the sick and more often than not, the sick are poor, too. If you don't want to serve the poor, please, please, please, don't become a physician. Adcoms look for altruistic efforts on the part of pre-meds not because we want to create another hoop to jump through but because a desire to serve the needy is what we are looking for.

You seem to suggest that your patients are not deserving of the best you can provide and that they should be satisfied with whatver crumbs come their way. Instead, consider that you have been given a great privilege to serve those in need and those who give receive far more in return.

 

[NickNaylor]

OP is probably one of the most entitled people I've ever seen post on this forum.

 

[goldenwest]

OP is probably one of the most entitled people I've ever seen post on this forum.

I disagree. I don't think he's saying he doesn't want to serve them; it's just frustrating when people are ungrateful and unappreciative. He is complaining because the patients are acting entitled not because he's entitled. But either way - suck it up, and the LOL at the end is just unforgivable.

 

[Dookie2010]

I think there is an unfortunate stereotype associated with "free service" programs that the people partaking in them are lazy, unappreciative, etc. I volunteer at a free clinic and for every 1 pt that complains or seems excessively ungrateful, 99 are overwhelmingly appreciative. Maybe next time you hear it happening, think of the appreciative people you helped that day.

 

[rHinO1]

So I work in a hospital as an aid and today a few of the patients were complaining about little things, like not getting what they wanted for lunch, etc... It just erks me because all the patients either had no insurance or were on medicare/medicaid. How can you complain about something you are getting for free? These patients were def not thankful/grateful for even getting FREE healthcare.

Im not against free healthcare or providing patients with quality care, but how the hell can some of them be so picky with FREE SERVICE.. 😕.. These patients need to be grateful for what they have and be lucky they arent in a third world country where healthcare isnt free..

Im writing this from work and just needed to vent.. LOL

First, medicare and medicaid are not "free," it is just at no cost to them. Second, people deserve the same treatment regardless of their insurance status, especially when it comes to a hospital meal.

BTW, I work in a hospital too, and I have never looked to see what a patient's insurance plan was.

 

[NickNaylor]

I disagree. I don't think he's saying he doesn't want to serve them; it's just frustrating when people are ungrateful and unappreciative. He is complaining because the patients are acting entitled not because he's entitled. But either way - suck it up, and the LOL at the end is just unforgivable.

I think the OP absolutely wouldn't serve a patient if he knew they were going to whine about their crappy free care. I mean, what do they expect? Food or something?

 

[goldenwest]

I think the OP absolutely wouldn't serve a patient if he knew they were going to whine about their crappy free care. I mean, what do they expect? Food or something?

In all fairness, you weren't there. If you picked a homeless man up off the street gave him a hot shower, fresh clothes, $50, and a fresh meal and his response was "A BURGER? WTF, give me some good food like Olive Garden not this crap." you would probably be frustrated too. If you posted said frustration on a forum to vent and then someone said "dude you're an entitled prick - the guy doesn't get to eat that often" then how would you feel?

 

[juliedi]

Not gonna lie, when I read the title of this thread, my first thought was that it was going to be about patients and feces. Geez, I gotta stop working for a surgeon who does so many rectal cases...

 

[rHinO1]

In all fairness, you weren't there. If you picked a homeless man up off the street gave him a hot shower, fresh clothes, $50, and a fresh meal and his response was "A BURGER? WTF, give me some good food like Olive Garden not this crap." you would probably be frustrated too. If you posted said frustration on a forum to vent and then someone said "dude you're an entitled prick - the guy doesn't get to eat that often" then how would you feel?

Maybe after you turn 65 and have Medicare as your insurance you will feel different. We are not just talking about the homeless here.

 

[goldenwest]

Maybe after you turn 65 and have Medicare as your insurance you will feel different.

It's so funny how quickly people pin me on a position. I never said I condone the behavior. I'm just saying I don't think he's "the most entitled OP evarrrr." I also said suck it up, which the OP should proceed to do now.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

In all fairness, you weren't there. If you picked a homeless man up off the street gave him a hot shower, fresh clothes, $50, and a fresh meal and his response was "A BURGER? WTF, give me some good food like Olive Garden not this crap." you would probably be frustrated too. If you posted said frustration on a forum to vent and then someone said "dude you're an entitled prick - the guy doesn't get to eat that often" then how would you feel?

because the OP is the one picking up the full bill of these "free" patients? it's douchey nonsense that somehow these patients should shut up and simply cry tears of appreciation about anything that the OP deigns to provide them.

also, since most people seem utterly confused by this, medicare is NOT some sort of charity, you pay into it your whole life and receive benefits down the line.

 

[aspiringOSTEO]

1

 

[rHinO1]

This made me laugh because I had a similar situation happen the other day. I work the front desk at a hotel until med school starts in August which serves a free hot breakfast each morning to the guest. So a homeless man walks into the lobby and asks if he could please have something to eat. Being the type of person I am I said "Sure, you can grab some food but then you must go." Doing this was risking my job as well as complaints from other guests, but I did not want the guy to starve. Long story short he gets his food and then decides to sit down and eat which I told him he could not do. He then shoves food in his mouth and then makes a loud scene about how the gravy was to cold and danishes tasted like cardboard. I was at a loss for words and had to refrain myself from going


Anyways, I guess that makes me an entitled pr**ck as well.

Apples and oranges, bro.

 

[goldenwest]

because the OP is the one picking up the full bill of these "free" patients? it's douchey nonsense that somehow these patients should shut up and simply cry tears of appreciation about anything that the OP deigns to provide them.

also, since most people seem utterly confused by this, medicare is NOT some sort of charity, you pay into it your whole life and receive benefits down the line.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNz-UxpcA0U[/YOUTUBE]

 

[halethsonofhama]

"A BURGER? WTF, give me some good food like Olive Garden not this crap."

My mom bought a homeless man some McNuggets. He opened the box and yelled "I WANTED A BIG MAC!!!" then threw them at my mom

And thats how I learned to get what I want

 

[rafflecopter]

My mom bought a homeless man some McNuggets. He opened the box and yelled "I WANTED A BIG MAC!!!" then threw them at my mom

And thats how I learned to get what I want

 

[halethsonofhama]

But on the topic. People are entitled to healthcare. But they aren't entitled to have a horrible attitude (that goes for any profession).

Luckily with the medical profession, they can complain all they want, but you don't really have to listen to them, and you can even 'modify' their care accordingly

And thats what Draw Needles are for (joke!)


(when I say complain I mean, "I scheduled my appointment for 5pm. it is now 5:05 and I have pilates at 5:10. I need to be seen right away!"

 

[AbbyNormal]

also, since most people seem utterly confused by this, medicare is NOT some sort of charity, you pay into it your whole life and receive benefits down the line.

true. you pay into medicare while you are working and when you are no longer working you still have to pay monthly premiums. totally different from medicaid (welfare)

 

[VikingLegacy]

.

 

[fishsticks2629]

OP is probably one of the most entitled people I've ever seen post on this forum.

Lol.

I grew up on welfare/foodstamps and I appreciate what it has to offer to the less than fortunate. Entitled? Hardly. If you read my original post I made it clear I am not against providing quality care. I am use to the sentiment of patients being douchy whether they are paying or not paying because I have worked as a CNA for 2+ years.

The particular scenario was for this guy (41 yrs old and on welfare) was throwing a massive fit about not being able to get his FREE breakfast because he was NPO and needed a certain test (that was free).. Then one of my other patients (also under 65 and on welfare) cursed at me and the hospital because he didn't get the right kind of eggs. Its hard for me to think what they are doing is okay because they aren't even paying for ANYTHING!. In the back of my mind I compare them to my experience in a third world country rural health clinic, where kids would come in for things like typhoid fever and pneumonia and we couldn't do anything for them because we ran out of medicine. Yet, NONE of those kids ever threw a fit or complained!

Work in the hospital for awhile and see if your lofty opinions change. Obviously I'm still professional to these patients but it makes my stomach turn sometimes from the things they do. End lesson, be grateful for what you have, especially if its free!

 

[rHinO1]

Lol.

I grew up on welfare/foodstamps and I appreciate what it has to offer to the less than fortunate. Entitled? Hardly. If you read my original post I made it clear I am not against providing quality care. I am use to the sentiment of patients being douchy whether they are paying or not paying because I have worked as a CNA for 2+ years.

The particular scenario was for this guy (41 yrs old and on welfare) was throwing a massive fit about not being able to get his FREE breakfast because he was NPO and needed a certain test (that was free).. Then one of my other patients (also under 65 and on welfare) cursed at me and the hospital because he didn't get the right kind of eggs. Its hard for me to think what they are doing is okay because they aren't even paying for ANYTHING!. In the back of my mind I compare them to my experience in a third world country rural health clinic, where kids would come in for things like typhoid fever and pneumonia and we couldn't do anything for them because we ran out of medicine. Yet, NONE of those kids ever threw a fit or complained!

Work in the hospital for awhile and see if your lofty opinions change. Obviously I'm still professional to these patients but it makes my stomach turn sometimes from the things they do. End lesson, be grateful for what you have, especially if its free!

I think what makes you come off poorly is that your making this an issue of class/money. There are plenty of jerks with awesome insurance too. Whether someone is a jerk, has nothing to do with their healthcare coverage. After all, there are lots of sweet people who have no insurance or use the programs you listed.

 

[chiapet874]

OP is probably one of the most entitled people I've ever seen post on this forum.

you thought that just cause he complained a little? Jumping to conclusions here aren't we?

The fact is, there are always a few jerks in every profession. You just gotta move on.

 

[fishsticks2629]

I think what makes you come off poorly is that your making this an issue of class/money. There are plenty of jerks with awesome insurance too. Whether someone is a jerk, has nothing to do with their healthcare coverage. After all, there are lots of sweet people who have no insurance or use the programs you listed.

Yea and I dislike those people all the same. But at least those people are paying for a service. I guess what my point is, if you are getting something for free you should be extra thankful to have it.

 

[StudyShy]

I had a HPM (a type of Medicaid) pt last month who just got back from a cruise. I have never been on a cruise.

It's best not to think about it.

 

[bsloane]

I would prefer people complaining about the food over a patient pulling a knife on me. When you deal with people in healthcare you have to remember that they are at their darkest moment. How would you act if you were scared for your health, maybe your life and possibly in the worst pain you have ever experienced. I bet you aren't the most wonderful person around either.

 

[eagles22]

I had a HPM (a type of Medicaid) pt last month who just got back from a cruise. I have never been on a cruise.

It's best not to think about it.

I have medicaid patients drive through my pharmacy's drive-through in their BMW X5.

 

[fishsticks2629]

I would prefer people complaining about the food over a patient pulling a knife on me. When you deal with people in healthcare you have to remember that they are at their darkest moment. How would you act if you were scared for your health, maybe your life and possibly in the worst pain you have ever experienced. I bet you aren't the most wonderful person around either.

Trust me these two patients I dealt with today were not in their darkess hours.. One got discharged later and the other will prob be D/C tomorrow. They were there for testing and werent in horrible pain.

Of course I have empathy for patients, but after working in the hospital my perceptions become more realistic and less idealic.

 

[tanay]

This made me laugh because I had a similar situation happen the other day. I work the front desk at a hotel until med school starts in August which serves a free hot breakfast each morning to the guest. So a homeless man walks into the lobby and asks if he could please have something to eat. Being the type of person I am I said "Sure, you can grab some food but then you must go." Doing this was risking my job as well as complaints from other guests, but I did not want the guy to starve. Long story short he gets his food and then decides to sit down and eat which I told him he could not do. He then shoves food in his mouth and then makes a loud scene about how the gravy was to cold and danishes tasted like cardboard. I was at a loss for words and had to refrain myself from going


Anyways, I guess that makes me an entitled pr**ck as well.

👍 I work at the front desk of a hotel too, this happens a lot (people always try to sneak in!). People love to complain about the free stuff that the hotel offers too, but oh well. Such is life

 

[apumic]

OP, I empathize with you. It sucks to be treated that way and sometimes it is the non-paying pts that are the worst and most entitled. At the same time, I think it's crucial to still treat these pts well, which it sounds like you're doing. I've had pts spit on, hit, curse at me, etc. during and after receiving medical services while not paying a dime. At the same time, the ones who are grateful for the care they are receiving at no cost make it all worthwhile. They are the reason I come back to work and to my volunteer site day in and day out. You grow a thick skin after awhile. These kinds of pts are the source of the dark humor in the ED and other units w/ high volumes of indigent pts. Unfortunately, SDN isn't really a safe place to vent about this kind of thing b/c so few here have significant healthcare experience. Most here have probably never had a Pt spit the food you gave them at you simply b/c they disliked what the hospital provided. I just don't let it bother me. If the food I offer a pt isn't to their liking, I'll usually offer them another option if there is one available. If they still dislike the alternative, I generally simply apologize and let them know that if they get hungry later, the food will still be available. Often, these kinds of pts simply need strict boundaries. I find it much more annoying when other staff undermine boundaries that have been set in order to help maintain order on the unit.

 

[essaywhuman]

HA! I understand your frustration, but I have very little sympathy. Last weekend, just for a recent example, we got called out to a certain fine establishment in my locality for an asthma attack. Long story short...it wasn't one, but we still had to drive the pt two hours to the hospital for other reasons. Pt was not happy. Pissed all over the gurney and the ambulance and then slapped me. Also tried repeatedly to pull out their IV. We then had to ride the rest of the way in smelling like piss with a restrained and very vocal pt. Remember that this is a two hour transport. 😱

Here, however, is my take. If you let the bad pts get to you, you're going to have either a very short or a very unhappy career in medicine. You won't like a lot of your pts, and you might even hate some, but if you can't "smile on your pride and let that nonsense ride" (to quote A Tribe Called Quest), you're going to be miserable. I've seen this happen to a lot of my co-workers, and believe me you don't want to be "that provider:" the burnt out ******* stuck in a job he or she hates; jaded about the world.

No everyone pays and not everyone is grateful, but YOU should always be grateful to be the one with the opportunity to help.

 

[raltima07]

I agree with your sentiments - While I volunteer, people like this come in all the time...not fun =(

 

[fishsticks2629]

HA! I understand your frustration, but I have very little sympathy. Last weekend, just for a recent example, we got called out to a certain fine establishment in my locality for an asthma attack. Long story short...it wasn't one, but we still had to drive the pt two hours to the hospital for other reasons. Pt was not happy. Pissed all over the gurney and the ambulance and then slapped me. Also tried repeatedly to pull out their IV. We then had to ride the rest of the way in smelling like piss with a restrained and very vocal pt. Remember that this is a two hour transport. 😱

Here, however, is my take. If you let the bad pts get to you, you're going to have either a very short or a very unhappy career in medicine. You won't like a lot of your pts, and you might even hate some, but if you can't "smile on your pride and let that nonsense ride" (to quote A Tribe Called Quest), you're going to be miserable. I've seen this happen to a lot of my co-workers, and believe me you don't want to be "that provider:" the burnt out ******* stuck in a job he or she hates; jaded about the world.

No everyone pays and not everyone is grateful, but YOU should always be grateful to be the one with the opportunity to help.

I understand what you are trying to say, although cheesy it may be. I DONT let the patients get to me but on the same notion I dont smile while they are rude and ungrateful. Of course patients are going to curse at you, spit on you, throw feces at you (happened with an ETOH pt in the ED). However I'm not going to smile with ideallic naivety and say, "its ok, do what you like to me, im just grateful to be of service". LOL

I know patients will always be like this and I never asked for sympathy. I was merely making a frustrating observation.

BTW, two hour transport to a hospital? You must live way way out there?

 

[Dmannn]

So I work in a hospital as an aid and today a few of the patients were complaining about little things, like not getting what they wanted for lunch, etc... It just erks me because all the patients either had no insurance or were on medicare/medicaid. How can you complain about something you are getting for free? These patients were def not thankful/grateful for even getting FREE healthcare.

Im not against free healthcare or providing patients with quality care, but how the hell can some of them be so picky with FREE SERVICE.. 😕.. These patients need to be grateful for what they have and be lucky they arent in a third world country where healthcare isnt free..

Im writing this from work and just needed to vent.. LOL

I can punch you in the face for free. Will you be grateful for that too?

 

[orthomyxo]

For all you know, this person hasn't been given a choice of what they want to eat in a decade.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Lol.

I grew up on welfare/foodstamps and I appreciate what it has to offer to the less than fortunate. Entitled? Hardly. If you read my original post I made it clear I am not against providing quality care. I am use to the sentiment of patients being douchy whether they are paying or not paying because I have worked as a CNA for 2+ years.

The particular scenario was for this guy (41 yrs old and on welfare) was throwing a massive fit about not being able to get his FREE breakfast because he was NPO and needed a certain test (that was free).. Then one of my other patients (also under 65 and on welfare) cursed at me and the hospital because he didn't get the right kind of eggs. Its hard for me to think what they are doing is okay because they aren't even paying for ANYTHING!. In the back of my mind I compare them to my experience in a third world country rural health clinic, where kids would come in for things like typhoid fever and pneumonia and we couldn't do anything for them because we ran out of medicine. Yet, NONE of those kids ever threw a fit or complained!

Work in the hospital for awhile and see if your lofty opinions change. Obviously I'm still professional to these patients but it makes my stomach turn sometimes from the things they do. End lesson, be grateful for what you have, especially if its free!

but if they were paying for everything out of pocket, it'd be ok!

poor people should stfu and be grateful for everything!!

Unfortunately, SDN isn't really a safe place to vent about this kind of thing b/c so few here have significant healthcare experience.

can your post be any more condescending? wtf do you know about the experiences of the collective whole of SDN?

 

[Mbeas]

but if they were paying for everything out of pocket, it'd be ok!

poor people should stfu and be grateful for everything!!

YEA!!!! finally someone with some sense in here!!!!! poor people need to get jobs because the only reason they are poor is because they waste their money on drugs/alcohol

🙄

 

[orthomyxo]

ITT: everybody's getting mad

 

[Ursa]

 

[NickNaylor]

Lol.

I grew up on welfare/foodstamps and I appreciate what it has to offer to the less than fortunate. Entitled? Hardly. If you read my original post I made it clear I am not against providing quality care. I am use to the sentiment of patients being douchy whether they are paying or not paying because I have worked as a CNA for 2+ years.

The particular scenario was for this guy (41 yrs old and on welfare) was throwing a massive fit about not being able to get his FREE breakfast because he was NPO and needed a certain test (that was free).. Then one of my other patients (also under 65 and on welfare) cursed at me and the hospital because he didn't get the right kind of eggs. Its hard for me to think what they are doing is okay because they aren't even paying for ANYTHING!. In the back of my mind I compare them to my experience in a third world country rural health clinic, where kids would come in for things like typhoid fever and pneumonia and we couldn't do anything for them because we ran out of medicine. Yet, NONE of those kids ever threw a fit or complained!

Work in the hospital for awhile and see if your lofty opinions change. Obviously I'm still professional to these patients but it makes my stomach turn sometimes from the things they do. End lesson, be grateful for what you have, especially if its free!

Wait, you mean to tell me that not everyone appreciates the work you do and sacrifices you make for them?

Oh ****.

...yeah, I still think you're entitled. Either that or incredibly naive. Being on food stamps at one point in your life doesn't ward off hubris, buddy.

 

[toastedcheese]

sometimes it is the non-paying pts that are the worst and most entitled. At the same time, I think it's crucial to still treat these pts well, which it sounds like you're doing.

More like most of the time, though maybe it's just easier to brush off and forget someone being rude to you when you actually get paid for your service to them. Agree with your second line, you're just debasing yourself to their level if you treat them poorly for it.

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

I wouldn't be so quick to jump down the OP's throat. He never implied that he was going to treat those patients any differently, just that he was frustrated with their attitude. I think it's perfectly legit to feel that way, and if you make it through a career in medicine without getting frustrated by a patient (for whatever reason), then you are either A) lying to yourself, B) a robot, C) the most incredible person alive. (Hint: none of us will be C). Doctors are human, too, with the normal gamut of human emotions. All you can do is try your best to treat everyone equally, knowing that it is never going to be possible.