I was smitten by another writers block for a long time, but this topic was compelling enough for me to return. I don’t know if this will be just a blip on the radar I will continue writing. If you live in the Bannerghatta locality like I do in Bangalore, you’d know what I am talking about on this post. For others who don’t, let me give you an analogy:
Imagine yourself going through a new TV buying decision – what do you look for besides the price, features, right? How many HDMI ports does the TV have, is it full HD or HD ready, what is the contrast ratio, can it support USB playback, what is the brand value, obviously you wouldn’t want to buy a Takai would you?
Now, if someone in the family is unwell, would you go through a similar process to decide which hospital to go to? Would you choose a hospital because they can perform a “single incision laparoscopic surgery”, or “Arthroscopic Brachial Plexus Catheterization”, or have the “CyberKnife® Robotic Radio Surgery System”? Pardon my French but I don’t give a fuck about whether the hospital has the most advanced technologies in Asia, or if it was the first one to perform a certain surgery in the country.
I’d rather go to a hospital that:
- has cashless transaction option for my medical insurance cover,
- is (relatively) accessible to where I live,
- takes good care of their patients (word of mouth or factual knowledge).
Our friends at Apollo and Fortis don’t seem to understand the logic – to me it appears as if these ads I see all over Bannerghatta Road are targeted towards hiring the best doctors, surgeons, and physicians in the city and not towards attracting patients. You’re telling them that they get to play with the latest gadgets in the market (read medical equipment), and you’re telling them they can feel proud to be part of your organization. If your intention is to get the public to know you’re good – you’ve failed mise-fuckin-rably!
If you want the public to know you are the best hospital around, share your patients experience surveys with us, tell us how they rate you in patient care, facilities, cleanliness, accuracy of diagnostics, doctor’s fee, etc. This may not be relative to other hospitals, because you wouldn’t expect your patients to try one hospital each week, but just an assessment of what they think about your services. I’ve been to these hospitals in the recent past and I know they do take those feedback forms, so why not make them public?
Someone I know complained of a chest pain in the middle of the night, and the emergency room at Apollo hospitals took an hour and a half to get an ECG done. I don’t give a rat’s ass about the equipment you have if you take that long to perform potential life saving diagnostics.
Get the drift?
Treat the patient, not the Xray. ~James M. Hunter
