Based on my recent experience of undergoing surgery in a reputed hospital of New Delhi, I shall outline in brief what patients have to undergo and remedial steps thereof.
Currently a patient has to first book an appointment with a specialist online, stand in long queues for billing, then wait for 30-45 minutes for meeting the doctor who prescribes a few investigations. Then patient has to repeat the ordeal after undertaking all diagnostic investigations as prescribed, rebook an appointment with the specialist, stand for billing at counters, meet the doctor for consultation and prescription of treatment. Quite often, patients do not know who the right specialist is for their ailment to be addressed and the entire process has to be revisited.
Considerable ordeal can be avoided if the process is completely reversed as under.
Hospitals may constitute a few Diagnostic teams comprising of radiologists, pathologists, microbiologists, biochemists etc.
First-timer patients may book appointment with any one diagnostic team barring emergencies, visit the team to narrate their problems who will prescribe, conduct necessary tests, sign test reports after required billing and advise patients which specialist to approach for accurate treatment.
Then the patient may approach the specialist armed with test reports for first and may be final prescription.
This procedure will not only be more objectively focused, but also specialists will have more time to attend more patients.
Patients shall be prevented from unnecessary delays in treatment and harassment.
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