Quote:
Originally Posted by mepstein
That's not really how it works. Many problems don't have clear symptoms but can piggy back on other issues. Hospitals don't order the tests, doctors and NP's do. They are trying to make sure they get a complete reading about your health. If they don't do the (standard) tests and miss something, it doesn't help anyone. You don't have to agree to the tests but at least ask why they are being ordered. It's not like the dr or nurse gets a cut.
The hospitals don't encourage the dr's and nurses to keep the beds full, it's actually just the opposite.
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I will politely disagree. Mrs. Cajun is head of Radiology at a major Med Center and has seen this stuff with senior patients for 30 years and at 3 different hospitals. Fear of malpractice suits seems to be a major driver to over-treat and over-diagnose patients by MDs, especially in the 65+ age group. This practice is fully endorsed by the hospital bean counters, and as a result, over-treatment is rampant in the US.
Minimizing Fear-Driven Diagnostic Testing
We went through a similar experience to the OP last week. Aunt Paula is 86, can barely walk and has dementia. She was admitted to ER due to a fall but "while they are in there" the PA ordered a battery of CP testing due to a possible narrowing of her arteries. My wife talked directly to the PA and got the full court press on diagnostic testing. She asked "what are you going to do if you find narrowing, surgery? She is 85, can barely walk, and has significant dementia. You can't fix that with surgery. AMA release papers please."
She was pissed.