questions for all you med students

[shetland]

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If I were to face a situation in which a hospitalized patient required an extended stay at the hospital. His/her insurance company was refusing to pay for any additional days. What would I do?.

Sorry, I am from a country where there is a nationalized/ central halthcare and not sure how to answer this question. Is this answer sufficient?
Explain to the patient that his/her insurance would not cover the extended stay, if the patient could not afford to pay or not able to raise the funds, then I may find out whether he/she can apply for social assistance.

Any help/ advice would be greatly appreciated

Cheers,
J

 

[Beau Geste]

As a physician, you can recommend a longer stay, but typically it's administration of the hospital who gives the final say in staying/going. Just because the pt.'s insurance runs out or has no insurance doesn't mean they can't stay longer. Costs will be incurred but it's between the hospital and patient to work them out.

Usually a physician doesn't talk with the patient about working out financial issues - the social work or billing department helps with that. Not to sound mean, but that's their job.

 

[Bones2008]

as a doctor, if I were to believe that my patient required a longer stay in a hospital than their insurance would allow, I would do everything in my power to keep that patient in that hospital bed. interpret that how you will, but I know of many stories involving doctors who have badgered insurance companies until they give in.