Ugh, why do hospitals do this??

[MamaBelle4]

I'm having surgery tomorrow (to make sure Mamabelle5 doesn't become Mamabelle6+), and here I sit, waiting for a phone call telling me when my surgery is going to be.
I need to make arrangements for my other kids and what time of day my surgery is effects what we do with them.
Why can't they schedule their surgeries more than 12 hours before! It is so frustrating!

ETA: I said "other kids" because DH will have our newborn with us so I can nurse him right before and once I'm alert again.

 

[Southernmiss]

Been waiting since Monday to see if a specialist has decided to accept my child as a new patient.

Called today-still nothing. Need this appointment for a specific week when child is home for spring break. Ugh!

 

[MamaBelle4]

Been waiting since Monday to see if a specialist has decided to accept my child as a new patient.

Called today-still nothing. Need this appointment for a specific week when child is home for spring break. Ugh!

How hard can it possibly be to decide whether or not you're accepting a new patient! That is ridiculous!!

 

[dish rag]

Because they really don't care.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I'm having surgery tomorrow (to make sure Mamabelle5 doesn't become Mamabelle6+), and here I sit, waiting for a phone call telling me when my surgery is going to be.
I need to make arrangements for my other kids and what time of day my surgery is effects what we do with them.
Why can't they schedule their surgeries more than 12 hours before! It is so frustrating!

ETA: I said "other kids" because DH will have our newborn with us so I can nurse him right before and once I'm alert again.

Not sure why hospitals do this as a rule - because every surgery or procedure I or my kids have had has been the same thing - but as far as I know, an OB does this particular type of surgery and they need to make sure any last-minute c-sections are taken care of first, as well as any that come in overnight or in the morning.

At least that is what I was told when I got mine....and wow. I just realized it was 12 years ago yesterday - he day after DS12 was born! I was supposed to "tentatively" go into the OR at 8am, but a couple last-minute and emergency c-sections pushed it back to late afternoon. Definitely enough time for me to reconsider! I was *this* close to saying forget it! Thank goodness I didn't...I can't imagine worrying about a #4 for the past 12 years! haha

Good luck! It's really fast and the incision is really small. I freaked out about it - funny but kind of long story - and it was really barely anything.

 

[Southernmiss]

How hard can it possibly be to decide whether or not you're accepting a new patient! That is ridiculous!!

I know. It feels like we are waiting to see if we're getting accepted into some exclusive Club.

 

[mjkacmom]

Our plan was for DH to get fixed, but an unplanned twin pregnancy, with a necessary c/s, spoiled those plans. Four pregnancies, five kids, and DH didn't even have to go under the knife, because my OB convinced me it would be easy for her to fix me during the c/s. I'm still mad.

 

[kimblebee]

All my surgeries last year were booked months in advance. One was moved back by a few weeks but I still knew three weeks in advance. It would drive me insane to have to wait til the day before..

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It depends on the hospital, of course, but bigger, busier hospitals often don't finalize their schedules till the night before because things remain fluid - people coming and going, emergency cases, building issues, cancellations for whatever reason, add on cases, staff availability, etc. There can be a combination of elective and emergent surgeries on any given days.

As for getting in to see a specialist, many hospitals have taken steps to make the process of getting in to see someone easier just for that reason. They have outreach staff and people whose only job is to get people in the door.

A lot just depends on where you go and what their systems are.

 

[rwdavis2]

Never heard of such a thing. Many surgeons at our hospital are given blocks of time on specific days and they schedule months in advance.

 

[MamaBelle4]

It isn't just the OB, my nephew had to have surgery a couple years ago and it was the same thing. It is a pretty small hospital.

Our plan was for DH to get fixed, but an unplanned twin pregnancy, with a necessary c/s, spoiled those plans. Four pregnancies, five kids, and DH didn't even have to go under the knife, because my OB convinced me it would be easy for her to fix me during the c/s. I'm still mad.

See, I'm actually angry because the nurses and doctors tried to talk me out of it. "Are you sure?" "It's permanent, you know, no going back." "Why doesn't your husband have the surgery." "You're so young!"

I had to watch a video from 1987 that, after telling me how babies are made (thank God someone did, I've always wondered), told me about all the different types of BC and further encouraged my DH get fixed.

I told them the DAY I went in for my first appointment that we were done after our son was born and reminded them frequently. I have 5 kids. I have no desire to have to buy a 10 passenger van to get groceries.

 

[lsyorke]

I'm having surgery tomorrow (to make sure Mamabelle5 doesn't become Mamabelle6+), and here I sit, waiting for a phone call telling me when my surgery is going to be.
I need to make arrangements for my other kids and what time of day my surgery is effects what we do with them.
Why can't they schedule their surgeries more than 12 hours before! It is so frustrating!

ETA: I said "other kids" because DH will have our newborn with us so I can nurse him right before and once I'm alert again.

If your in NJ I could probably tell you what hospital it is! Operating room scheduling is a big game amongst doctors. Who has block time, who doesn't...who took longer than they expected, what emergencies came in. Most get it done quick successfully, but some just can't get it together. There's no reason a patient should be waiting until the day before to find out there OR time, or even in some cases if it's on the schedule at all.
It's a constant battle for offices scheduling surgeries.

 

[cruiser21]

Emergent surgery's always take precedence. Non emergent surgery's are rarely given a scheduled time until the last minute. Like previous poster said things are fluid. Think about it. If you or your kid needed an emergent surgery wouldn't you want to take precedence. A hospital is not going to let someone die over another persons elective surgery.

 

[robinb]

All my surgeries last year were booked months in advance. One was moved back by a few weeks but I still knew three weeks in advance. It would drive me insane to have to wait til the day before..

You’re making us all jealous again .

@MamaBelle4, did you ever get your surgery scheduled?

 

[kimblebee]

You’re making us all jealous again .

@MamaBelle4, did you ever get your surgery scheduled?

Oops, sorry

 

[MamaBelle4]

If it is an emergency surgery, it is unlikely, I assume, for it to be scheduled the day before between 3-6. Also, if l had a surgery scheduled and it had to be bumped back for an emergency, that would be fine. No reason not to schedule it until the last minute.

Yes, they called me at 5:30. My surgery is at 9. Thank you for asking!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

They wait because someone more urgent than you could come along, and you'll get bumped. I know waiting is tough, but when it comes to healthcare, being lowest priority is a good thing, it means the doctor thinks you can survive longer without them.

 

[cruiser21]

If it is an emergency surgery, it is unlikely, I assume, for it to be scheduled the day before between 3-6. Also, if l had a surgery scheduled and it had to be bumped back for an emergency, that would be fine. No reason not to schedule it until the last minute.

Yes, they called me at 5:30. My surgery is at 9. Thank you for asking!

I'm glad you got it scheduled. I just said that because I see non emergent surgery's get bumped back all the time. Sometime even a day or so. I don't know if the hospital eats the cost or not. I work in a Trauma center and heart hospital... so emergency's are the norm.

 

[Monykalyn]

It isn't just the OB, my nephew had to have surgery a couple years ago and it was the same thing. It is a pretty small hospital.




See, I'm actually angry because the nurses and doctors tried to talk me out of it. "Are you sure?" "It's permanent, you know, no going back." "Why doesn't your husband have the surgery." "You're so young!"

I had to watch a video from 1987 that, after telling me how babies are made (thank God someone did, I've always wondered), told me about all the different types of BC and further encouraged my DH get fixed.

I told them the DAY I went in for my first appointment that we were done after our son was born and reminded them frequently. I have 5 kids. I have no desire to have to buy a 10 passenger van to get groceries.

Ok this made me chuckle and also gnash my teeth in frustration for you!
They only asked my husband if he was sure once. No third degree questioning.

Hope your surgery is smooth recoverynis quick and easy!

 

[robinb]

If it is an emergency surgery, it is unlikely, I assume, for it to be scheduled the day before between 3-6. Also, if l had a surgery scheduled and it had to be bumped back for an emergency, that would be fine. No reason not to schedule it until the last minute.

Yes, they called me at 5:30. My surgery is at 9. Thank you for asking!

Good thoughts going out to you for a safe surgery!