Blood tests 3 times a day: To monitor disease or to increase hospital revenue?

The fact that a patient had to undergo blood tests three times in four days at a hospital has attracted the attention of many readers. Some people are concerned, while others say this is necessary.

A patient is having blood drawn for testing - Illustration: NGUYEN KHÁNH

After Tuoi Tre Online published the article "Patients complain about having to have blood tests 3 times in 4 days", many readers sent feedback.

Opinions are divided, with some saying that repeated testing is necessary, while many others say the healthcare system is flawed and puts patients at a disadvantage.

Is repeat testing necessary to ensure patient safety?

According to many readers, doctors requesting re-testing should not be considered "abuse", because each time a patient is admitted to the hospital, the disease progression may have changed.

"Each time I go to the hospital, my condition may be different, so I have to do another test to ensure an accurate diagnosis," reader Hoai Bao explained.

Reader Thanh Hoa shares the same opinion: "If the condition changes, repeat testing is necessary. But clearly information between departments is not synchronized, so patients suffer."

Meanwhile, reader Tran Tran asked about responsibility: "If the test is not retested and the disease develops, who will be responsible? Today it is normal, but tomorrow the patient eats something that changes the results, what then?"

"In the emergency room, doctors usually only order basic tests. When transferred to the treatment department, the specialist will order additional tests depending on the monitoring goal. If the disease progresses, it is natural to have a re-examination, including X-ray if suspected. One test only takes a few ml of blood, it does not affect anything," Dr Blue reader analyzed from a professional perspective.

Reader Le Van Thuan shared the case of a patient with high blood pressure who had to undergo repeated tests to monitor heart enzymes and determine the risk of a heart attack. "Blood was taken every few hours, let alone every other day," this reader said.

Meanwhile, reader Huu Nhan suggested that if testing is really necessary, nurses and doctors should explain carefully to the patient's family so they do not panic.

Poor data connectivity causes patients to have multiple tests, which is costly and tiring.

Also from the above story, readers pointed out the reality that many hospitals do not recognize each other's test/imaging results, but require patients to redo them, causing patients to pay and endure pain and wait over and over again.

"If the system is well connected, patients do not have to do the test again. Doctors want to be sure, patients are tired and lose money," reader Thai Hoa emphasized.

Reader Minh Tran asked: "Every time we transfer to another hospital, we have to start testing again. I wonder if the hospitals don't trust each other's results or are testing to increase revenue?"

Sharing the same opinion, reader Binh wondered why "we are both doctors and have the same education system, but one place does not recognize the results of another place?".

Reader Tu commented: "Hospitals with few patients conduct many tests to create jobs for staff. Large hospitals only conduct tests once, unless there are unusual developments."

Reader Nguyen Dong frankly said that if the same type of test is repeated, it is "abuse".

Reader Hong Van is also concerned about the widespread testing, which is a waste for patients. According to this reader, doctors must be responsible for ensuring that testing is necessary, and the system must allow patients to use results that are valid nationwide. At the same time, the quality of testing laboratories needs to be upgraded.

Reader Mr. Hien proposed a solution: The Ministry of Health should regulate laboratory standards, and when a hospital meets the standards, the results must be recognized throughout the system. "Only in special cases should the test be retested. Testing 3 times in 4 days is a bit much, making patients think the hospital is running KPIs."

Results will be communicated between hospitals.

Two streams of opinion show that the problem lies not only in expertise, but also in the system of managing and sharing medical data.

In order to reduce duplication of tests and paraclinical services and make the most of data between medical examination and treatment facilities, the Ministry of Health is drafting a circular regulating the list of tests, paraclinical services and conditions for using paraclinical results when connecting results between medical examination and treatment facilities.

In this draft, the Ministry of Health specifies in detail the rules for sharing test results, paraclinical results, etc. between hospitals. However, the decision to conduct tests and diagnostic imaging still lies with the treating physician. Because only the treating physician understands the patient's condition to make appropriate instructions.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/4-ngay-3-lan-xet-nghiem-mau-de-theo-doi-benh-hay-de-tang-doanh-thu-benh-vien-20251128174600827.htm