When the time for my medicine came and went and after repeatedly pushing the button, my wife arrived and went to the front station. She was told by the nurse that the reason my medicine was not administered was that there was a shower for one of the nurses going on. This was stated matter of factly as if this was an adequate excuse.
I can feel my own blood pressure rising right now....
The way prescription drugs are marketed to doctors leaves a lot to be desired too. My MIL has had a LOT of experience in this area. She told one doctor flat out that she knew he got paid by the insurance companies for prescribing XYZ drug, and he said, "Oh no, I wouldn't do that." Whereupon she replied, "Doctor, I used to work for Oxford Health Care, and I KNOW how these things work!", and the doctor had nothing further to say...
Also, doctors seem to frequently prescribe something without knowing how much it costs, probably because "insurance will take care of it." Seniors like my MIL, however, are not covered by a retirement plan which includes medical coverage and prescription plan (my FIL worked as a consultant/contractor). So she cannot afford a $900/month prescription, and she lets her doctors know it. |
