Pet Peeves...Nurses who don't speak English! Hiring practice dumb!

Any U.S. citizen facing hospitalization for a quick medical procedure, or for the treatment of a terminal illness, agrees to be admitted with the understanding that Hospital staff - nurses, doctors, technicians, etc. - will at least have the ability to communicate effectively with the patient at the hospital.

A great bedside manner may go a long way to cheering up the ill, but unfortunately, few of the local hospitals appear to put much stock in that ideology.

Instead, through my own experience - and judging from the dozens of complaints I have received in response to my revealing exposes on Medical Care Facilities in the Los Angeles area,  it appears that administration is inclined to hire cheap labor - which means, of course - individuals with little education, care-giving skills, or the ability to communicate effectively in English are hired to babysit hapless charges.

Uh-huh!

That's my pet peeve this week!

It's time that the powers-that-be stop hiring on medical personnel who can't speak English fluently - or, at a minimum - are capable of communicating without difficulty with their limit knowledge of the language of the land.

Does someone have to die before anyone in the medical profession will sit up and take notice of this critical issue that needs addressing?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Citizen's Choice...excellent health care plan! Vision, Drugs & Dental!

As the end of the year rolls around, a posse of Seniors and Disabled Citizens are now forced to thumb through stacks of literature to locate a new health care plan, after being informed by Medicare that their provider is discontinuing services.

A sign of the times, perhaps?

Securing a plan that is either on par with the one that met their needs (drugs, low co-payments, maximum coverage, etc.) during the calendar year of 2010 - or better than the one they were content with - is not an easy row to hoe!

For those who need a heads-up, I highly recommend Citizen's Choice.

For starters, there are no co-payments for Doctor's visits.

In addition, most drugs are covered one-hundred-percent; but - if one is not - the prescription may only require a small co-pay (which amounts to about $1.00 to $3.00 in most cases).

In addition to comprehensive medical coverage for procedures and hospital stays - you name it - Dental and Vision benefits (such as free x-rays, cleanings, flouride treatments, and eye exams) are also provided.

Amazing, since most plans tossed out those benefits long ago when the economy spiralled downward.

There are many perks, too.

The plan pays for up to twenty free taxi rides during the course of the year for travel to-and-from medical facilities.

For those who are disabled, or do not drive, this is truly a plus.

In the event Citizen's Choice does not meet your standards (it's an HMO), then contact Medicare for a booklet outlining the plans and benefits provided for each provider in your neighborhood.

Happy Holidays!

http://www.thetattler.biz