How do you really feel about 5-star rooms?

suzanne4, RN · May 18, 2004

Henry Ford Hospital in the "city" of Detroit has had their VIP suites since I can remember. They have definitely been there more than 40 years, and there has never been a problem with them.

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston also has VIP suites/rooms and has had them for a very long time.

Many hospitals have VIP suites or units and have had them for years. You may just have never seen them. Ask even at the hospital where you work, you will be surprised by the answer that you will receive.

They do exist, just many places keep quiet about them..........

bonjovigirl · May 18, 2004

I don't see anything wrong with the idea. Its not as if they are saying "I have more money so give me the resources that would normally go to some poor guy with no money" They are providing these people with more money things that wouldn't necessarily go to someone who couldn't pay for it. The elderly person on medicare is still getting perfectly good care, they just don't get 5 star food. On the other hand, If My hubby and I were wealthy (in my dreams) because we earned it, then maybe I would like something better to eat than nasty plasticy scrambled eggs for breakfast. Maybe nicer blankets than those thin cruddy ones. Maybe I would like it if my room had nice pictures on the wall instead of dirty flat white paint. Why is that so bad? They are paying for extra services, not taking stuff away from others. The majority of people believe healthcare is a right. Thats different than a private chef, and I don't think anyone who is willing to pay for these services believes they have a "right" to a fine meal while in the hospital, but they are willing to pay for it.

I see it as a win-win situation.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 18, 2004

If they pay extra for it, I don't have a problem with it either. I just don't want to be the one catering to 'em. :stone

eak16 · May 18, 2004

so the rich have the right to be kept more comfortable than others??? Do they also deserve more pain meds?? What about lower nursing ratios?? While wer'e on it, what about completely separate hospitals where they dont have to be bothered by non-rich folks at all. (oh wait, we have those... :stone )

if the food is really that bad and the blankets are really that thin for the general population, it should all be upgraded.

Truly_Blessed · May 18, 2004

If they pay extra for it, I don't have a problem with it either. I just don't want to be the one catering to 'em. :stone

I think that was the mental picture I got...Me running around dealing w/outrageous demands, having to pamper them and what not. I have never, ever seen this like I said earlier. Since alot you say alot of hospitals have these rooms, I am going to try and find out which hospitals in my city have them. Just to know. Interesting.

nurseygrrl, LPN · May 18, 2004

I also don't think AIDS, HIV and Africa has anything to do with this discussion. There is no correlation between people paying to eat better food in a hospital and money for AIDS.steph

I just meant that as an example. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that more money means you get more and that's just not fair when it comes to certain things. I mean...what sort of benefits do these patients get? They will certainly be paying for a lot more than just better food. Administration is definitely going to want to keep them happy, so trust me, nursing will be involved in that task. Is it fair for the rich pt. to get their pain meds right away while the middle class pt. has to wait? Same goes for CNA duties.

I also don't agree that 'all' will benefit from the money garnered by '5 star rooms'. Do you think admin. will say...'hey!' we're doing so well here that we've decided to hire more nurses and raise their salaries!' I doubt it. It will line the pockets of the already wealthy.

Maybe I'm cynical, but that's just my humble opinion.

Natalieboo · May 18, 2004

so the rich have the right to be kept more comfortable than others???

If they can pay for it, of course! They have a right to drive a BMW if they can buy one too. :rolleyes:

CCU NRS · May 18, 2004

I am not impressed. I think when it comes to medical care, everyone should be afforded the same services. If they want 5 star rooms, they need to shag butt to a hotel.

Hey I wrote an article about customer service caled "is the customer always right?

http://www.okcnursingtimes.com/specials/newsletter_view.asp?newsid=351&catid=88&active=0&mode=current&count=0

smk1, LPN · May 18, 2004

my concern would be whether or not administration will be understanding of a nurse who may receive complaints about slow "service" from the "5 star" patient because she has an obligation to tend to her 6 or more other patients in a timely manner. I could see this becoming a problem. Have any of you practicing nurses encountered any problems or issues with the "5 star" patients? I just would hate for the 5star people to be under the impression that they have a somewhat private cna and nurse and giving the team a bad rating because of slow service, not realizing (or perhaps not caring) that the nurse and cna have many other patients as well. when you pay more you tend to expect more and herein lies a potential problem in my mind. so the question is have any of you practicing nurses run into problems like this or has it usually worked out alright?

Dixiedi · May 18, 2004

Our hospital has new "5-star" rooms (you know with a chef, etc.) What is your reaction to this type of thing and "how does it make you feel"? I'd really like to know what other nurses think about it because my first reaction was not a positive one. THANKS!

I don't see a thing wrong with it. Hospitals have to be able to make money someplace, it sure isn't off the multitudes of medicaid patients who drain the system and return nothing. (I am not saying ALL Medicaid pts, ok?)

I've seen medicaid pts get tx that the underinsured can not afford. Medicaid only pays what they want, which is not usually what a tx/procedure costs.

It's all in the money...and Kerry wants to expand on that!

redwinggirlie · May 18, 2004

Five star room? Does that mean your family will be there to dip your lobster for you?

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 18, 2004

Well, I'm a firm believer in a free market system. If someone wants to pay for 5 star service, so be it.
There is a private hospital nearby that was started by a physician who wanted to give his patients great care without all the hoops to jump through . . . . he is a 5 star surgeon, treats his nurses really well, actually all his staff. Pay and benefits are great.
I don't see the downside . . . .
steph

Steph I feel the same way. If someone has the money to pay for the service, someone somewhere is going to take that money.

I however, don't have the stomach to work with the rich. We're on different wavelengths and too much butt kissing needs to happen. I choose where I work because built into the mission is "to serve the community regardless of their ability to pay" or something like that. I'll take the nonpayers over the 5 star patients any day. :)