Lessons in Hospital Administration

Everybody knows I'm a multitasker -- or at least I try to be. My job -- and my passion -- is my main occupation, which is being an ophthalmologist. I am also trying to be a good mom to my 3 year old and a good wife, daughter and friend. In addition to that, I have a small online business on the side and I blog. Last but not least, I am a student, taking up a Distance Learning Course at UP Open University, hoping to get my Master's in Hospital Administration.

I love this course since it shows me the more practical side of health care management. You know, we never had subjects that deal with how to manage our practice when we were in Medical school. We mostly dealt with the science and art of the human body and trying to maintain good health and trying to heal. But until I actually set up practice, I never knew how expensive it is to have a good health care system. I used to be one of those people who criticized the hospitals for "overpricing" and trying to earn from the "unfortunate patients".

The truth of the matter is -- it IS expensive to run a hospital. All those nurses, all those medical, office, and maintenance personnel in all the departments, both medical and non-medical -- the hospital has to pay them salaries. Even if it were minimum wage (which it sometimes is not), multiply that by the number of employees -- that's the amount that the hospital has to shell out -- and which it has to pass on to its customers, the patients. They also have to deal with utilities like electricity, water etc. Look at your utility bills at home, multiply that by the size of the hospital, and maybe you can get a rough estimate of how much the hospital has to shell out.

Of course, the hospital has to obtain important medical equipment and to keep up with the times. These equipment are expensive, especially if they are brand new, some of them running into the millions of pesos. Sure, if there were enough patients, the machines would eventually earn, but if there are not enough patients, there is a possibility that it won't be able to pay for itself in the long run. Some hospitals, especially the smaller ones, try to save some money by buying used medical equipment instead of brand new ones. As long as they are still in good working condition, refurbished medical equipment may still be used for the basic procedures that are needed in the hospital. Some hospitals who need duplicate equipments, i.e., more of the same equipment, for example, EKG machines, buy one brand new unit and maybe several more used EKG machines so that they can be used simultaneously on several patients.

About hospitals being money makers? What most people don't realize is that privately owned hospitals DO have to earn some money because they also have a responsibility to their stockholders. Even government hospitals have to earn money in order to survive, since government subsidy does not cover all the hospitals' needs. A hospital which does not earn will not survive at all, and in the end, nobody benefits. Unfortunately for the hospitals, they do have to earn from sick people, but then that's what they're there for anyway.

Just some food for thought the next time you complain about the hospital. We NEED hospitals, and the money you pay for services would ensure that the hospital has a greater chance of surviving.

The Aftermath...Counting my Blessings

Part I -- Blighted ovum
Part II -- Hydatidiform mole

I looked forward to being discharged from the hospital because my little boy is turning 2 by September 16. I was originally scheduled to be discharged either September 14 or 15 because I was still being given Methotrexate intramuscularly as prophylactic chemotherapy. Since my husband and I were both doctors, however, my gynecologist decided that I could go home on September 13. My husband could administer the last dose of chemotherapy. I could just monitor myself for any untoward symptoms. Thank goodness!

I have a new respect for patients undergoing chemotherapy. I had a 5 day cycle of low dose methotrexate. But I felt awful during that time! The nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain...and to think that my symptoms were considered mild! I can only imagine what patients with a higher dose regimen for longer periods of time go through! Especially if their illnesses also cause a lot of discomfort in the first place!

I also had a headache, a quite severe dull headache with accompanying nape pain. I thought I was just suffering from stiff neck because I was put in bed rest for for so long. I thought I was wimpy (or maybe I am :P). I was told that it was the effect of the spinal anesthesia.

But enough of the ranting...this post should be mainly about the good things. Things that I count as blessings during this episode in my life...

I am blessed with a wonderful husband who actually said that if it comes to choice between a hysterectomy and no other kids AND my life, he'd rather that I live. That came about when there was a question if it were a choriocarcinoma or an H. mole. Thankfully, it WAS an H. mole which is benign and had a good prognosis after treatment.

I am blessed with a loving mother. For all her sternness and strict rules, she loves us unconditionally. She took care of my son while I was still in the hospital and even when I was at home resting. Since we just had a D&C and was a little bit low on funds, she lent us the cash we needed to pay for my hospitalization.

I am blessed with brothers who gave me words of encouragement, obtained the necessary blood for me and also helped take care of my little boy.

I am blessed with in-laws who understood what I went through and gave me support and encouragement. My sister-in-law also helped by staying with me at the hospital when my husband could not.

I am blessed with a little angel who shows me in his little ways his love and support. I am thankful that he has a nanny who takes good care of him so I would not have to worry too much about him.

I am blessed that I live and enjoy all the good things...which, I sometimes overlook. Sometimes it really takes a sad event to make us realize how truly blessed we are.