The cardinal rule at The Cardinal Santos Hospital: 15T down or you're out!

Here's an interesting read from my email. I'm posting it in its entirety. Read on...

Just don't know if this also holds for HMO cardholders. ..
Dear Would be Sick Friends,

Here is a real life experience I had when I took my grandson to Cardinal Santos Hospital, a hospital named after the memory of a very passionate Christian man and servant leader. This happened last Feb 9, Wednesday 10:30 pm at the Cardinal Santos Emergency Room.

THE CARDINAL RULE AT CARDINAL SANTOS HOSPITAL
15T DOWN OR YOU'RE OUT

"For admission po ba ang apo ninyo? Mag-down po kayo ng P15 thousand!" This was the cold reception of the admitting officer at Cardinal Santos Hospital as I shiver upon the diagnosis of resident doctor (Dr. Joan Tan from the emergency room) that my 6 month old grandson (Xandro Ynigo Blanco Zubia) had pneumonia and needed admission.

I bled dry. Nanuyo lalamunan ko, nanginig buong laman ko, halos maubos ang dugo-I could have dropped dead and mistaken for dead on arrival. Face to face with a trained cold hearted medical staff, I said---"WHATTTTT, do you think I'd walk in here with P15 cash on hand. That's exhorbitant! Where does it say in your medical book that "before you get sick, you should have 15t cash on hand or you will be refused admission! Mamamatay ka ng dilat ang mata!"

"Eh yan po ang policy namin, nun Thursday (Feb 3) lang po inimplement. "Teka...Is that information posted anywhere in the hospital? Was that policy properly disseminated to all your good paying public? Dapat alam yan lahat ng pasyenteng ninyong pumapasok dito! No one in his right mind will bring that amount with him for an emergency case.

Not even the richest Chinoy in Greenhills!

And if the bills don't reach 15t do I get my money back?' I retorted, blood boiling.
Ay mga 1 month po ang processing ng reimbursement ninyo kung may sobra! he answered reassuringly.
Ganun? You must be sick in the head!
Eh yun po ang policy!
That policy stinks as bad as your hospital services!

Here's the juicier part -- I had to wait for another 30 minutes for the xray results while Xandro was gasping for breath.
Eto pa matindi---hinabol pa ako ng guard because I needed to pay the x-ray fee which was taking them hours to prepare and hand over to me!
(DISGUSTING! ) Mabilis sa pera, mabagal sa serbisyo!"



And so I left and went straight to The New Medical City. The next scene was a complete turnaround from what I experienced at Cardinal Santos. The nurses and attending physician were quick. "Talagang emergency!

Upon arrival, they took the vital signs. Followed by a bombardment of questions on Xandro's medical history. "Kelan po nagumpisa ubo't sipon, nilagnat po ba siya, ilang araw na po, may history po ba ka! yo ng asthma, ano pong gamot ang binigay ninyo. Nasuka po ba, nakakadede po ba ng maayos? These and more. Then, the doctor subjected my grandson to a nebulizer. 3x in a row in a span of an hour.

As opposed to the kind of "kunyaring emergency" service we got from Cardinal Santos. Hours later, nakahinga siya ng mabuti,,,lalo naman ako! It was only after a complete emergency diagnosis that the good nurse asked me to go to the admission office and get a room for Xandro. Fresh from verbal battle from the other hospital, I was geared up for the next bout with the admitting officer so I went through the routine again of filling up the form.

And now here's the final blow. Magkano ida-down ko?

"Naku, kung magkano lang po ang kaya ninyo. was the immediate reply. Can I use my credit card? Ay opo, basta Visa or Mastercard. Nakaayos na po yung room ninyo. Ipapanik na lang po kayo pag okey na kay doctor.

That's simple service! Simple courtesy of handling a panic striken customer without taking a deep breath! Now, be patient (no pun intented) Cast in your verdict. Or cash in your 15T! By the way, Cardinal Santos is undergoing facility repairs. Baka dun nila gagamitin yung downpayment. A concrete wall for every P15t cash donor. Who'd give out that amount at a moment's notice--- for every breath a patient takes!

Next time you go on emergency-- remember Cardinal Santos' cardinal rule " P15T or out you go!

Nini M. Blanco
Communication Consultancy Group
Corporate Affairs Office
San Miguel Corp.
.Podium Level, HOC , Ortigas Mandaluyong City
6322331/0917 8276924

To members of the medical community,
you did take a vow to save lives, right?
The AnitoKid is just asking - no more, no less.
And I kid you not!

What do you think, thinker?