ismnotwasm
ismnotwasm's JournalWhat It Looks Like When a Hospital Erases $11.9 Million in debt
In 2018, the massive nonprofit health care system sued her for just over $11,500 in unpaid hospital bills, plus $3,800 in attorneys fees. In April, a Shelby County General Sessions Court judge ordered her to pay $150 per month toward the debt.
If she was lucky, the envelope contained only a warning. If she wasnt, it was another attempt to garnish her paycheck, even though she wasnt even getting one.
Nervously, she opened the letter. As of August 1, 2019, it said, your total amount due is $0 for docket ROBINSON, and we have notified the court that this account has been paid in full.
I had to read it a couple of times just to make sure, Robinson said. I couldnt believe it. I went crying around the house.
https://www.propublica.org/article/what-it-looks-like-when-a-hospital-we-investigated-erases-millions-in-medical-debt
'I've been a nurse for 30 years, and I understand why so many of us can't do it anymore.'
(I work in a decent hospital, but I see new nurses struggling, as our hospital is an inner city one that has a increasingly difficult clientele. We get hurt, often by repetitive tasks, bed up and down patients pulled up in beds, heavy doors pushed open dozens of times a day.. I never have less than 5 miles of steps We get assaulted (something my hospital has taken decisive steps about) we deal with life and death. We are exposed to every kind of infected body fluid that can get infected, which is everything.
We are fiscally responsible because our hospital doesn't always break even, and we know cutting staff or staff benefits is ALWAYS on the table. And its the right thing to do.
Its a great profession, still, and I cant imagine doing anything else.)
I still remember, as a graduate nurse, feeling an overwhelming sense of responsibility; that a moments inattention or carelessness could cost someone their life, and, on the flip side of the coin, that my skills and knowledge could make a difference, even be lifesaving. Nearly 30 years later, I still feel it.
Last year a friend suffered severe burns after a gas bottle explosion. Amid surgeries, skin grafts, dressing changes and a lot of top shelf analgesia, he told me that what affected him daily, more than anything else, was how he was treated by his nurse.
He needed explanations and rationale that made sense to him. He struggled with the frustration and powerlessness he felt when he wasnt heard. It would have been easy to label him a difficult patient but it was those nurses who really saw and heard him who made the difference.
https://www.mamamia.com.au/why-nurses-quit/
At least I know who I absolutely won't be supporting in the primaries
As far as supporting, Leaning toward Biden, albeit somewhat reluctantly-(and yes I have my reasons)because hes pretty clearly going to get the nom, and I might as well start practicing.
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Gender: Do not displayMember since: Mon Aug 23, 2004, 10:18 PM
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