IT'S YOUR LIFE -- A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR CHRONIC AILMENTS

( By Sangeeta S. Bhagwat )

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Your Health Care Unit

Certain diseases require regular visits to the health care unit. This may be for either treatment or check-ups. A comfortable, efficient environment goes a long way in reducing your strain. To minimize the possibility of additional complications from infection, negligence, lapses or error, choose your unit with some care.

Some factors to note:



  • Has someone responsible and knowledgeable, for instance a nurse or medical social worker, been designated to answer all your queries and misapprehensions completely?

    Chronic disease management is difficult and intimidating, at the outset. You and your caregiver need to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Basic treatment, diet and lifestyle changes should be explained. All queries should be answered. If this is not done at the beginning itself, you may inadvertently cause further damage to yourself.

    Support and counseling is also necessary to cope with the huge impact of the diagnosis.


  • Have you been explained the foreseeable risks, costs and duration of medication/treatment beforehand?

    You need to plan your future lifestyle and funds. Get to understand all the consequences of your choice of treatment, beforehand.

    For instance, if you are opting for a transplant, find out the lifestyle restrictions, medication and check-up routine, that will be imposed subsequent to the transplant. Also understand the risks involved not only in the transplant itself, but also in the future.


  • When you/your relation is required to sign consent forms, are you given time to read and understand what it is that you are signing?

    While the consent form is meant to protect their legal rights, it is also meant to provide you with adequate information. Unfortunately, consent forms are usually required only for risky procedures, that too often during a crisis. At such point, you have little time or choice. However, the form will give you complete information about the potential risks and you can still make a hard decision. Besides, the transparency and attitude of the health care unit are clearly revealed in how this matter is dealt with.


  • Ensure the unit is hygienic and clean.

    Basic cleanliness and hygiene is a must. Verify that the unit and equipment is disinfected at regular intervals. Items, especially medicines, needles, etc. must be kept in an organized, neat fashion. This way, no time is lost in locating the right item.

    While this may seem an obvious requirement, many of the smaller nursing homes, labs, etc. fall short of minimum standards.


  • Do they have adequate and well-maintained equipment for regular and emergency treatment?


    You could be surprised to find that units are often short of equipment. Ventilators and other sophisticated equipment may not even be present.

    If the unit is well equipped, you still need to confirm that regular maintenance and disinfecting is carried out.

    Your regular treatment may be compromised, without your knowledge, if the machines are not maintained properly. Further, at a crunch moment, a failed machine could cost you your life.

    You can ask your doctor or the nurse/technician in charge, to answer all these queries. Always inquire with other patients as well.


  • Are disposables dealt with in the prescribed fashion?


    There are standardized norms for disposing used medical supplies. These are meant to protect the staff, the patient and also those who handle the dispose.

    It is important that they are implemented so that you, amongst others, are protected from unnecessary exposure to additional disease risk.

    The more the public awareness, the better will be the implementation. So ask the staff these questions.


  • Are adequate measures taken in respect to infection and transmission control?

    Does the staff routinely disinfect their hands, use masks, hair-nets, etc. and change gloves, as and when required?

    Often, they are dealing with more than one patient at a given time. If they continue working with the same gloves, they are adequately protected, but you are not.


  • Is the staff compassionate and considerate in their behavior?

    One of the greatest contributors to alleviation of fear is simple kindness and compassion. It even gives you more strength to deal with the pain and discomfort of your procedure. Ensure that you feel comfortable and looked after.

    Human nature differs. Short-tempered, rude, aggressively authoritative health care workers can increase your discomfort and or anxiety. Some may tend to work at great speed, even while performing delicate procedures. As this is routine to them, so even at speed, they may be efficient. However, to you, this can be disconcerting.

    All this can lead to physiological changes such as increased blood pressure as well. Avoid units where they do not take the trouble to correct such behavior amongst the staff.



  • Is the staff attentive to your reactions/discomfort to the ongoing treatment as also any malfunction in the equipment? Subsequently, do they immediately take remedial action?

    Most machines are computerized and have built in alarms. But the attending staff should be alert to any such messages or your symptoms. They should also be quick and capable of remedial action.

    In long treatment sessions, such as dialysis, careless staff has been known to wander off, onto a break. They may not even be in the vicinity, to hear the alarms. In such cases, the patients themselves have to be alert to any oozing blood or drop in blood pressure. They are also forced to rely on their care-giver, to go and seek out assistance.

    If you, or your caregiver, are forced to monitor your own treatment, on a frequent basis, the unit is not of an appropriate standard.


  • Is the general ambiance supportive and reassuring, or stressful and rushed?

    Body language and staff attitude acts as an index of their confidence and efficiency. If the staff is stressed, rushed and anxious, it is highly unlikely that they can provide their best service.

    On the other hand, calm, collected and composed staff is better able to provide care, thoughtful attention and efficient treatment.


  • Have you verified the charges?


    Most hospitals have a fixed "discharge time". Hence, if you are discharged after this specified time, you may be charged for the next day.

    Consumables such as dialyzers, blood lines, oxygen masks, gloves, etc. and even some medicines, may be priced differently across various hospitals.

    Almost all hospitals charge different rates from inpatients and outpatients, for the same procedure. There may be extra charges for late/unscheduled procedures/visits.

    Within the same hospital, charges for procedures, doctors' visits, etc. can vary with the admission category that you choose.

    Check your bills carefully, particularly if the listed medicines, procedures, doctors' visits etc. are factual.

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