The Rising Cost of Hospital Stays

Governments are looking for ways to cut the cost of hospital stays.  Apparently, in my province it costs $1600/day for someone to stay in the hospital overnight.  Health providers are reluctant to keep anyone in hospital due to these costs.  Rising health costs are often in the news.  

I went to visit a friend in hospital last week.  It was a very hot afternoon.  As I walked to the entrance, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful flower beds.  I always notice beautiful flower beds out of jealousy.  You will never notice beautiful flower beds outside of my house.  However, as I was wiping sweat beads off my brow, I couldn't help noticing someone else wiping sweat off his brow.  It was a maintenance worker who was watering the extensive flower beds.  I don't know the value of watering the flowers in the highest point of sun on such a hot day, but, then I obviously know nothing about gardening.  I am assuming that this maintenance man is assigned to the outdoors grounds and in the summer, he tends to flowers and in the winter, clears snow and ice.  So, in effect, his salary is contributing to the $1600/day cost of his hospital stay.  

When I walked into the hospital, I was greeted by two security guards.  Unfortunately, this is a fact of life now.  We need security in many of our public places.  We need security at the door regardless of how many people are occupying hospital beds.  

In order to recruit and maintain skilled employment, the hospital must offer steady jobs to Nurses, Lab Techs, Housekeeping, Laundry, Administrative Staff, Culinary Services, Chaplains, Social Workers, Rehabilitation Staff, \Pharmacy, Physicians and a host of other professionals.  The facility must operate 24/7.  Even if the hospital is empty, the facility must have minimum staffing levels.  I have visited a friend placed in a "ward" room (can accommodate four patients) where they were the only one staying in the room.  Basically, the hospital is not saving much money by having three vacant beds.  It just gives the staff more of an opportunity to provide patient centred care.  The kitchen still has to prepare enough meals for capacity, just in case something happens.  That leads to waste, however, doesn't contribute much to the bottom line.  

I understand that hospitals cost a great deal to run and it may be $1600/bed/day.  However, keeping beds vacant doesn't result in significant savings.  Hospital personnel really don't need to "bully" patients into going home before they are ready or not admit someone just as a way to save a few bucks.  It is unfortunate but everyone needs an advocate to help them through the medical system.  For those that don't have an advocate, they are especially vulnerable when presenting themselves at hospitals.  In my city, there have been a couple of tragedies where people were sent home alone by taxi instead of being admitted to hospital.  The tragedy is that this decision has cost some people their lives.  The further tragedy is that the health system spent lots of money examining those decisions so any savings the system had from not providing admission, was more than tripled by the decision to send them home alone.  

Yet, the government continues to tell us that our health care system needs to be healed.  Maybe it is a radical idea, but, has anyone examined why we need so many beautiful flower beds?  I understand that a lot of these costs may come from private fund-raising, however, when I donate to hospital foundations, I hope my money is going to something more medical.  Maybe I am bitter just because I am jealous that I have no green thumb.  

I realize outside flower beds are beautiful, however, we are told that our health system is broken and costs need to be reduced.  Maybe the common sense solutations are the place to start.