Convenience and speed I understand but at the cost of the patient’s wallet. They should reduce the surgeon’s fee by the amount of time saved! They can make it up on volume!
The Captain
can dream impossible dreams
I got a rash from the glue on the 3M adhesive covering the wound. About the only allergy I can think of…
That surgery was quite interesting. The anesthesiologist came to talk to me mid afternoon. Had I eaten anything? “Not since last night as instructed except for the pear compote the nurse brought mid morning. It was really nice!” This seemed to bother the doctor, he said the operation would be done later than planned and he was quite distressed. I asked him if this would be a problem putting me to sleep. “No. My problem is waking you up again!” “I see your point doctor!” Isn’t life fun?
BTW, while waiting to be wheeled into surgery a couple of orderlies were talking about dinner. I asked them to stop because I was getting really hungry!
BTW2, they added to my bill whatever medication they gave me to stop me from vomiting. Not a problem, patients have DEEP pockets!
I asked him if this would be a problem putting me to sleep. “No. My problem is waking you up again!” “I see your point doctor!” Isn’t life fun?
I always joked with patients that asked, I don’t get paid to put you to sleep, I get paid to wake you up.
BTW2, they added to my bill whatever medication they gave me to stop me from vomiting.
There are numerous studies about the cost of post-op complications from nausea/vomiting that they far out weigh the cost of the drug. Even if the patient doesn’t get nauseated/vomits. Results of large numbers. One interesting study asked patients how much they would pay to not have any nausea, the average answer was around $100.
I always jokedwith patients that asked, I don’tget paid to put you to sleep, I get paid to wake you up
More to the point, wake you up with all your marbles
Anesthesiologists all seem to have iterations of this joke the World over (a bit like orthopedic surgeon jokes) Back when I was doing my residency, one very senior guy who passed gas for our oral surgery day cases would joke that, in Days of Yore, he’d quote his fee to private patients in guineas (a pound and a shilling back when it was still regular currency)…50s to put them to sleep and £50 to wake 'em back up again.
I think this was partly to illustrate to us dentists that, as safe as general anesthesia was (in the 1970s), there’s still a potential for problems.
I never argue with doctors about how to do surgery, I only argue about whether it is necessary or not. There are times when you have to trust the experts.
