Since when were patients referred to a GUESTS??

suanna · Mar 27, 2012

Mid 80s the term "patient" went out of political correctness. "Client" was popular. The thinking in enlightened educational circles was it was a good way to see the patient as a whole person not just an illness awaiting treatment. It was, and still is a bunch of administration driven, scholasticly supported BS. Good thing I'm a BSNurse.

IndianaHH · Mar 27, 2012

chuckling. I suppose it is a good thing.

I will guess, in light of the forthcoming health care rationing, nouns wont be needed (patient, client, guest) just adjectives. Younger than 70 or older than 70. :mad:

PMFB-RN, RN · Mar 27, 2012

chuckling. I suppose it is a good thing.
I will guess, in light of the forthcoming health care rationing, nouns wont be needed (patient, client, guest) just adjectives. Younger than 70 or older than 70.

*** Health care is already severly rationed in the USA. Our priorities are highly questionable IMO.

To the OP. Yes, as others have said just more political corecness BS. I made it a point to never use the term "client" back in the day when it was all the rage and won't be using "guest" either. If we all refuse to participate in the silly it will go away.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2012

Patients are now 'guests' because hospital administrators want the public to believe that healthcare facilities are intended for 'customer service.' Healthcare facilities have always been for patient care. Healthcare facilities are not designed for customer service, regardless of what hospital administrators mislead the public into believing. I'll illustrate the very significant differences between patient care and customer service within the next couple of paragraphs.

The chef at the steakhouse will provide top-notch customer service by preparing a juicy steak and baked potato covered with several pats of artery-clogging butter for the 'guest' with coronary artery disease. The pastry chef at the bakery will go out of his way to display outstanding customer service by baking an entire sugar-laden red velvet cake for the noncompliant diabetic 'guest.' The bellhop at the Holiday Inn will provide great customer service by escorting the 'guest' with COPD to a patio where smoking is permitted. Hotel staff will even light the guest's cigarette and provide guests with complimentary matches or lighters.

As long as 'guests' are paying for the services to be rendered, employees in the hotel, hospitality, restaurant, and tourism industry will do these things for the sake of excellent customer service. After all, they want the 'paying guest' to return someday soon. Healthcare facilities have been transformed into Burger King fast food restaurants, where the 'guests' can have it their way.

wooh, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2012

I wouldn't call it Burger King. More like the Bunny Ranch. At BK, the workers get to have at least a modest slice of dignity. When customers start cussing in the store, the store will kick them out. If customers start stealing from the store, they'll call the cops.

At the hospital, you can walk out with all the linens you want, hoard supplies, and cuss at whomever you want. And don't you dare say anything about that other than, "How may I help you? I have the time!" You dare stick up for yourself against any of the customers, you dare advise them to do anything that might be good for them but uncomfortable... Well, Bunny Ranch.

middleager · Mar 27, 2012

I recently read about a trend that is gaining popularity where several large money funds are looking to buy hospitals and take them private and cater to people with insurance and the ability to pay shunning medicaid, medicare, etc. They were looking to provide additional benefits to patients willing to post retainers and have recieved a huge response. Perhaps the administrators realize as they get cut on reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare they are going to have to attract people to pick up the shortfall. Referring to a patient as a guest might make them feel a little more confortable, increase patient satisfaction ratings which under obamacare effect reimbursement, and drive profits. Silly, but I can think of a lot worse PC junk.You stay at a red roof Inn for $49/night you expect to be treated like a guest...by pass surgery 4 days, $95,000+ guest is offensive? just a thought, a little silly and PC, probably, that big a deal?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 27, 2012

"Concierge medicine".......yep, that's what it's coming to. :down:

No thanks, I'll stick to my ALF that takes up to 40% Medicaid residents and doesn't expect the staff to bow and scrape according to a script.

wooh, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2012

You stay at a red roof Inn for $49/night you expect to be treated like a guest...by pass surgery 4 days, $95,000+ guest is offensive?

Well if they want the staff at the Red Roof Inn to do their bypass, they can have all the customer service they want.

Clovery · Mar 27, 2012

A girl in my class works at a state run psychiatric hospital and they even call the patients "guests" there :icon_roll

My instructors usually discourage us from using a replacement for "patient" - most of them say it's ridiculous.

1018rn · Mar 27, 2012

I feel your pain. A few years ago, our hospital opened a new wing (which I work on), and it initially was 'the 24 hoir visitation, all your family is welcome' ICU. I don't have to tell you what a mess that was! I don't know if it's fan attempt to attract business or what, but your're right, it sends the wrong message. We're here to heal, not heel!

pecanpies · Mar 27, 2012

"Guest," to me, implies one important thing: the element of choice. The individual has chosen to become a guest. I'm not compelled to check into Red Roof Inn; I choose to do so (well, frankly, I'd rather camp than stay in a Red Roof Inn, but to each her own). Patients, on the other hand, typically have not voluntarily elected to enter the hospital. They're in the hospital because they're sick, injured, or a combination of the two. (Obviously, a small fraction do enter voluntarily for things like cosmetic surgery, but that's not the average patient.) The patient may retain some element of choice if he or she decided which doctor or which hospital to use, but often that isn't the case. The choice has been made for the patient, either by an insurance company, a family member, or another referring provider. A "guest" can also check out whenever he or she wants and suffer no ill consequences. Patients cannot. They may have the ability to leave AMA, but if they do so they jeopardize their health and safety.

I'm all for the power of positive thinking, but to call a patient who's suffered a TBI following a car vs. tree MVA and is currently showing no signs of brain activity a "guest" seems naive at best and hopelessly escapist at worst.