Story of An Angry Patient! | Actifit Report Number 1296!
Even though we are not ENT specialists, we do "ear wash" for impacted earwax in our clinic. We put a drop in the ear, wait for 10-15 minutes, and irrigate the ear canal with normal saline. In most cases, we can clean the ear canal. Before COVID, we used to charge 2 OMR for each ear. After COVID, the price was increased to 3 OMR per ear. The patient paid the amount happily, and I found no patient fighting for the money until this time!
Before going to the story, here is a bit of a tangent. Insurance patients pay a "small amount" or "no amount", depending on their premiums. Some patients pay 1 OMR or less for any procedure in the clinic. But all the cash patients pay the full amount!
A middle-aged patient came to clean his ears. He did it before in our clinic. I even did the cleaning a few years back. As he was familiar with the procedure, I didn't talk about the price. He didn't ask either!
I could clean both ears successfully. The problem started during the payment. For both ears, the amount would be 6 OMR! He became quite angry. Why 6 OMR? Before, he used to pay only 0.30 OMR! Hearing this, I was surprised! Which doctor cleaned your ears with 0.30 OMR only?? He thought I made up the high bill! I asked nurses to check the previous billings. The patient didn't wait. He was furious. He gave the money and left angrily! He didn't even take the ear drops I prescribed for him.
Later, we found out that previously he had insurance coverage. Hence, he paid the amount he claimed to be paid. He was correct from his side. But this time, he didn't have insurance coverage. Hence, he had to pay as a cash customer! All fusses were just due to a misunderstanding!
With this, I am concluding my actifit report number 1296!
Thank you!
[All images are mine]
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Height165.0 cm |  | Weight73.0 kg |  | Body Fat% |  |
Waistcm |  | Thighscm |  | Chestcm |  |
Insurance can made a big difference in cost of medical services. It is sad they had lost or dropped their insurance because of what ever reason and then didn’t remember they had had insurance prior.
!ALIVE
!PIZZA
Hmm. He thought that, with or without the insurance, he would pay the same amount! Wrong thinking!
Thanks for your comment, David!
!BBH
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@darmst5339(2/5) tipped @hafiz34
Come get MOONed!
He must have known he didn't have the insurance.
Gonna be honest it is one of the great things about living in the UK is most health needs are covered by our NI contributions.
If we pay it is usually for private care which is a premium service anyway which you need insurance or deep pockets 🤣
Medications are extra unless you have some kind of exempt card.
Still 6 OMR is less than 12 Pound Sterling so honestly not that bad.
Great job bro, wonder if he'll be back for the drops? 🤣
@hafiz34
!ALIVE
!BBH
I will be including this content on the @heartbeatonhive curation collection
Project Moderator - @benthomaswwd
Made in Canva
I am kinda worried that he is not using the drop. He might get an ear infection! After ear irrigation, I always prescribe an antibiotic drop!
Thanks for the support!
!BBH
In the US, a medical procedure for ears (especially including drops) would be somewhere between $150 - $200 uninsured. Insured, a patient would still pay at least $50. I understand there are other factors, but from my perspective someone becoming angry about paying a bill for $15.50, expecting to pay $0.78, is a completely different scale of cost per service.
$15.00 is what we pay for a fast food meal for one in the US
$0.78 is what we pay for a small candy bar in the US
!BBH
Thanks for sharing about the cost of ear procedures in the US. Looks like, it's pretty costly there!
Here, the Omani patients usually don't make an issue due to the bill. This was an exceptional case. When he had to pay 20 times higher (than what was in his mind), he became furious!
Thanks for your comment!
!LUV
!ALIVE
!BBH
!INDEED 👍
Thanks a lot, brother, for your support!
!LUV
Misunderstanding can cause a lot.
Yes, it can!
We didn't get chance to clear the misunderstanding. If he returns later, then hopefully we can fix all!
Thanks for stopping by!
!BBH
If that patient had stayed calm and tried to find the reason for the higher bill compared to his last checkup (even though that was years ago), he might have been interested in renewing his insurance and significantly reducing his future expenses.
Lesson: Stay calm in all situations, it will help you eventually.
#aliveandthriving
You have spoken the truth, my friend! He didn't wait to find the reason. Rather, he left hastily! Yes. If he renews his premium, it will be good for him!
Thanks for stopping by!
!LUV
Issues over money is one of the quickest ways that people often become upset. I'm sorry that you were the one to receive his anger, my friend, I'm sure that didn't feel great. I hope that your Tuesday goes much more smoothly! 😁🙏💚✨🤙
!ALIVE
!BBH
I was kinda surprised hearing that he previous gave only 0.3 OMR! During the argument, I didn't have the facts in hand. Otherwise, it wouldn't be such an issue!
Thanks for stopping by, Tydyn!
!LUV
The misunderstanding caused the man to react that way.
Hmm. It happened like that! Impulsive decisions aren't good!
Thanks for stopping by!
!BBH