Financial counseling

One of things that takes some getting used to, here, is that finances are probably the major consideration in medical care.  We are understaffed, order fewer tests, and make do with less information in order to keep the cost down.  While we have a 'poor fund' at the hospital, the reality is that paying the bill (several days might run $26 US, a week with lots of tests might run $100 US) is a major hardship for many people even though our bills are between 1/2 to 1/10  that of other private local hospitals.

Once the poor fund has determined what you should be able to pay (and they are generous) it's then up to you to find the funds.  That generally means selling something or borrowing from everybody you know.  Now imagine you get sick again: you've already borrowed from everyone you know and that extra 90 cents a week you're able to scrounge after food is busy paying off everyone you borrowed from.  Can you allow yourself to be readmitted?  No.

So it's not infrequent that people go home then, by choice, with very dangerous conditions.  We do our best give them the optimal treatment in the circumstances.  It can be very hard for families to makes those decisions for loved ones: the decision between your uncle's life and everyone else's food is not an easy one.