Comments on: Hospitals Turn To Spying On Doctors

Undercover Patients Fake Ailments, Evaluate Docs

[alphaa10-2009]

The use of fake patients by the HMOs and hospitals is a "process efficiency" measure, and can be useful to patients only if the right questions are asked.

Unfortunately, patient advisory boards and followup surveys are structured by the very people who do not always appreciate surprises, and have a built-in need to justify certain policies and avoid questioning other policies.

That the AMA should bridle at the prospect of being held accountable means it objects to two sacred cows occupying the same space, at the same time-- the physician and the HMO.

Ultimately, both parties have an interest in making patient treatment run more smoothly and with less cost. Again, however, where is the advocate of the patient?

[alphaa10-2009]

"darnedsocks" said everything in caps, which is the equivalent of shouting in a confined space. Posters who believe caps attract attention may be surprised to learn most readers bypass them.

[darnedsocks]

AS I SAID THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY HAS NO CONCEPT OF "CUSTOMER SERVICE"!

THEY DRUG YOU UP WITH XANAX AND HAVE YOU SIGN A BUNCH OF LEGALLY-BINDING PAPERWORK, SAYING YOU''LL PAY FOR ANYTHING THEY DO TO YOU!

WOULD YOU GO TO A CAR DEALER AND LET THEM DRUG YOU AND SIGN LEGALL-BINDING PAPERWORK, GIVING THEM CARTE BLANCHE?!

THIS IS WHAT THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY DOES! THEY ARE ALL A BUNCH OF CROOKS, INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATORS!

ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR MONEY AND DON''T CARE ABOUT CURING PEOPLE.

[darnedsocks]

THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY IS THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONCEPT OF "CUSTOMER SERVICE"

I HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSSURE...WAS TOLD BY THE FIRST DOCTOR THAT I HAD TO TAKE MEDICATION. I TOLD HIM I DIDN''T WANT MEDICATION, I WANTED TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE DIDN''T LISTEN.

SO I WENT TO TWO MORE DOCTORS....ALL THREE OF THESE A$$HOLES JUST SAID, "YOU WILL BE STUCK ON THIS MEDICATION FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE" HA!

I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY ENROLLED IN A "WELLNESS PROGRAM" AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF "SODIUM" IN OUR FOOD THAT CAUSES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. SINCE I HAVE STOPPED EATING AT RESTAURANTS, MY BLOOD PRESSURE HAS COME DOWN TO NORMAL!

THESE DOCTORS ARE BRAINWASHED INTO THROWING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AT EVERYTHING AND TRYING TO LEGALLY "COVER THEIR A$$" INSTEAD OF ATTENDING TO YOUR HEALTH!

THEY DON''T CARE! ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR MONEY!

[zcotter]

Not against undercover quality assurance but....I suspect the same corporate big wigs that arrange it also tell clinic physicians that they must see a certain number of patients in a shift. They do this without regard for the added time needed to treat and educate very ill or slow to comprehend patients. These are the same medical managers that fight tooth and nail when nurses try to have safer nurse/patient staffng ratios implemented. The health care industry is no different than any other bean counting business. Too bad.

This is nothing new. Big Pharma has been bilking millions out of Medicare system for ever.

[wl7bzh]

This is nothing new-Federal Inmates routinely complain of fake ailments in an attempt to get controlled substances.

[stn_sage]

My comments are as follows:

1. Having ''fake'' patients, go into doctors'', dentists'' and hospitals'' facilities to research what kind of service/treatment is available, is a GREAT idea! Those doing their jobs'', have nothing to worry about!

2. That the AMA---and various other groups---are worried about this, is an indicator/acknowledge that there are medical personnel who are NOT doing their jobs'' correctly! If those persons are identified and reckoned with, it''ll be better for everyone; the consumer, the insurance companies, and the medical community as a whole!

3. Under this idea/plan, maybe that 100,000 patients figure, of those killed in hospitals each year, can be reduced!

[republic1776]

Great, here%u2019s capitalism at it''s finest.
We the people.
I am tired of a big fat Uncle Sam.
They take %u201CHundreds%u201D out of my pay and I am sick of it.
If more occupations take the lead in this example we can petition our bloated and controlling Government

[cyberus-2009]

Its about time .. they do it to almost every industry why should doctors be exempt?