How do you really feel about 5-star rooms?

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · May 18, 2004

What a fascinating thread! So many people irked because some have and some don't.

I didn't see anything about "poor" people getting substandard care in the OP, but lots of responses assumed that if some patients wanted to pay for larger rooms and more conveniences, that it would somehow detract from the care the rest of the patients got.

Fascinating.

Personally, I like taking care of patients in private rooms. It means I have more room! And I like taking care of people who can't afford more, because I know that the quality of care and comfort I give them is the best I can give them. And that makes me feel pretty good, actually.

I wouldn't turn my back on one group or the other--I just do what needs to be done for who I'm supposed to be doing it for. You can find nice people in either condition/situation, and you can find hyper dependent, demanding people in either one. The notion that one group is more likely to have one set of personality characteristics or another was, I thought, something we weren't to take into consideration.

Seems like there has been some reverse discrimination based on ability to pay, going on in this thread. Food for thought.

Turn it around--everybody has the right to equal "treatment," right? OK, you, the nurse who works hard and does a great job, will now be paid the same as the nurse who doesn't, regardless of shift, and so will be every other employee at your hospital regardless of training or responsibility, because you all deserve to have the same thing, no matter what.

Or better yet, consider that we in the western world live incredibly better than 95 percent (or more) of the rest of the world's population. In order to be fair, everything you own will now be distributed to others who are less fortunate. Never mind that you worked hard to get where you are, and for the most part your timing and luck happened to be pretty good, that doesn't matter.

Kinda puts it in a different perspective....

Dixiecup · May 18, 2004

Certainly I believe that all patients deserve "good care" regardless of their ability to pay ... and I can understand that some people resent those special services for people who wish to spend more money for them.
However, I can also understand the other side of the argument. If I have worked hard all my life and have lots of money and chose to spend it on making a hospital stay more comfortable for myself or for someone I love ... why shouldn't I be allowed to purchase those services? And if a hospital can make money by selling those services ... and make additional money from the charitable contributions those wealthy people donate --- money that is spent to provide better services for everybody -- then, why shouldn't a hospital offer those services?
It only makes sense. People forget that the money gained by the hospital is used to help everybody.
Also, my parents have both died in the past few years. When they were in the hospital (and money was not a problem), I wanted them to have the best care possible -- including a few frills and a little pampering that might not have been necessary and covered by insurance, but would make their last days more pleasant and bearable. There is nothing wrong with that.
llg

I am in absolute agreement. If people weren't allowed to do this it would be like discrimination for working hard and having a little (or a lot) extra.

Dixiecup · May 18, 2004

I think it's horrible. Not only is it unfair, but it feeds the new notion that nursing and medical care is akin to customer service.

It is akin to customer service!

Dixiecup · 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.

Unfortunately, the answer to all those questions is yes. Such is life. :rolleyes:

Berta · May 18, 2004

sigh.... :rolleyes:

Here's my 2 cents worth. I worked for a business that decided to cater to its "5 star customers". Know what happens? Pretty soon, you are told to take care of the 5 stars first because they generate more money. 5 stars got a private number that put them ahead of other customers so they get served first. "5 stars" get things done first and better because they will generate more revenue by making them want to come back in the future.

So, I see the same thing happening with health care. This is not a new concept. Its one that has been used in the business field for quite a while. It is a huge money maker. But pretty soon, there become more and more "5 stars" and then no one gets preference. Just think along the lines of your own preferred customer cards. Does it really get you anywhere? Same theory....

Brickman · May 18, 2004

I just don't understand why anyone would be bothered by this. The five star rooms don't come with better health care, it's the non essentials that are upgraded and the patient has to pay the difference out of pocket. I think one of the worst things that people can do is judge how someone else spends their money. I am sure that I could look at anyones spending habits and find countless injustices, but I choose not to.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 18, 2004

Five star room? What is it a hospital or a hotel????? :rolleyes:

maddiecat · May 18, 2004

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

There are special suites where the family can stay in their own cozy beds...I really appreciate all of your responses....I guess for myself I don't have a problem with the concept; I just get sensitive about the way people think of nurses and don't want any more negative images....it's also my understanding in our hospital that the nurses take care of only those patients; they don't "cross over" to the other side..:)

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · May 18, 2004

I would go back to med-surg nursing to work in a 5 star environment if it was guaranteed to have lower nurse to patient ratios. I assume these 5 star patients would understand that one way to get better "service" (care) would be for their nurse not to be in charge of 3 or 4 patients, not 6, 7 or 8 patients (or more).

I always prided myself in trying to do all I could above and beyond basic nursing care for my assignment, little extras like finding the special snacks or fluffier pillows or so on. But there is only so much I could do with the other mandated tasks for a large assignment. I would love the freedom of having the time to give the kind of care I know would make my patients more comfortable. Is it fair that only a segment of the population would get this? I'm not sure about fair but. . . Not every large family gets a 4-5 bedroom house leaving couples without kids to live in small apartments. That's not the way things are distributed here in the good ole' USA.

Stitchie · May 18, 2004

My question would be, would these "five-star" suites be used at high census periods when there has to be more room in the hospital for patients? Instead of giving the impression of 'vip service' why not just encourage the family to hire a private duty nurse or let the family provide some TLC?

Or does this mean just a larger rooms to accomodate more family?Then heck yes, bring it on, but I think ethically the country club set has to stay on the floor with the great unwashed if that's the way the bed coordinator works it out.

I don't really care how someone wants to waste their money but this seems like an ethical quagmire. I think it also reinforces the stereotypes that nurses are hired hands and not professionals.

Of course, I'd be the first one outraged when someone gets a direct admit to the floor of 'VIP rooms' instead of my 'been-waiting-for-8-hours-it's-one-in-the-morning' CHF'er with Medicare in the ER.

I believe the ethics would be violated; we're supposed to treat people equally. And the EMTALA laws are taken seriously; how is this one going to fly?

mattsmom81 · May 18, 2004

I think it is very interesting that people who espouse respect for everybody, different cultures, meeting everyone's needs, etc. sometimes have no problem being critical of the needs of the wealthy. People who are accustomed to living at a high socio-economic level should not have to sacrifice their socio-cultural needs any more than people who have cultural needs based on ethnicity or religion. But somehow, even among "caring" people, it is OK to "bash" them for having those needs.
llg

I object to this whole hotel type atmosphere hospitals try to sell. And if the rich want to pay for these fancy 'needs' fine...what I object to is someone telling ME as a nurse it is my job to provide servitude or special treatment to them, because they are 'somebody'. I am a nurse and I provide nursing care to ALL patients. When my supervisors whisper to me "There's a VIP in Bed1' I answer "All my patients are VIPs". I will object to being told I should work harder to please a wealthy patient. I think it is the family's job to cater to whims, personally I as the nurse don't have time...they are in the hospital for skilled nursing care and observation.

If the rich want 5 star service I'm sure they will find hospitals and nurses who would prefer to cater to them than work in the county hospital, but it ain't gonna be me.

Stitchie · May 18, 2004

I object to this whole hotel type atmosphere hospitals try to sell. And if the rich want to pay for these fancy 'needs' fine...what I object to is someone telling ME as a nurse it is my job to provide servitude or special treatment to them, because they are 'somebody'. I am a nurse and I provide nursing care to ALL patients. When my supervisors whisper to me "There's a VIP in Bed1' I answer "All my patients are VIPs". I will object to being told I should work harder to please a wealthy patient. I think it is the family's job to cater to whims, personally I as the nurse don't have time...they are in the hospital for skilled nursing care and observation.
If the rich want 5 star service I'm sure they will find hospitals and nurses who would prefer to cater to them than work in the county hospital, but it ain't gonna be me.

Mattsmom,

Exactly. Equal healthcare treatment is what is a right in this country, regardless of ability to pay. There's too much gray area here for ethical problems: if this 5-star hospital ED is the nearest facility to stabilize a gang-banger GSW victim, do they have the right to refuse her?

Bad idea. Too many logistical nightmares from my POV.