Well, we are now learning about the differences between the Norwegian and the US system. So far, given that we are insured, I would take a bed in New Jersey anytime over what we are seeing at this section at Ullevål University Hospital, supposed to be one of the leading hospitals in this small oil-rich nation of 4.5 million people -- all covered by national health insurance paid for but not always provided for by the government.
As I told you, A was able to come home on leave of absence from the hospital on Friday. When we returned on Sunday she no longer had a room, and it was made clear to us that taking the patient home involved the risk of losing your place. We were told that her previous room was occupied by someone worse off than her, and her bed and personal belongings were moved to the gym where she were to spend the night. When I returned, very concerned this morning, they had moved her to the corridor (see picture in previous post). As she was laying there, a nurse came by to tell her that she should watch her belongings. "Several drug addicts pass through here, and they might steal any valuables they can lay their hands on," she told A. There is no security here, and anyone can walk right by.
When I asked the doctor in charge of A´s care today -- a very nice woman in her late fifties -- and asked her if it is not irresponsible to place a 43 year old stroke patient with an eye infection in the corridor (right under a hard, fluorecent light), she agreed in "principle" but told me that the administration has calculated in corridor beds as part of their capacity -- evidently to save money. They could give us no clear answers to when she can be moved to a real rehab place, but assured me that as long as she was admitted here they are responsible for her. It is pretty clear to me that responsiblity is a meaningless term when she is given irresponsible treatment, and thought, maybe this is the downside of limited liability; the hospital runs no real risk since the liability is capped upwards and since there are no punitive damages awarded for malpractice here.
In addition to spending time in the corridor, she is also not given a schedule for training as we were used to from NJ. Instead we are told that they wil "come" when they have time" and that we will learn more later.
Having said all this, I have to say that everyone here is real nice - both the nurses and the doctors -- and their intentions are all good (but maybe of the kind used to pave the road to hell). But I can´t help but getting this sense that the professionals see themselves fighting against the system, and that the administrators are the enemy -- headed by the a politician evidently without much trust -- someone seen as out to show good economic governance and budgetary control. Hiding costs is not ok when the hidden costs must be paid for in terms of slower recovery, less complete recovery -- on the surface solved, but in reality just moved into the future -- resulting in more stress and more costs for everyone involved including our kids.
I will write more later, and when I told the doctor that I am now blogging in English, she said she would welcome an article in the New York Times about the conditions here. So would I.
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