The case of 'paying full amount before providing emergency care' in Nam Dinh: Some medical staff suspended

Nam Dinh General Hospital has suspended a number of medical staff to verify and clarify the case of a citizen who reported being asked to "pay enough money before providing emergency care" to a child who was involved in a traffic accident.

On May 5, the Department of Health of Nam Dinh province sent a report to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) and the People's Committee of Nam Dinh province about the examination and emergency care of baby MTA at the provincial General Hospital.

Accordingly, after receiving information about the process of emergency examination of patients at Nam Dinh General Hospital reflected on social networks, including the content of "paying full amount before going to emergency care", Nam Dinh Department of Health directed the Provincial General Hospital to review the procedures for medical examination, treatment, and emergency treatment of patients.

At the same time, direct the hospital to coordinate with the police agency to verify information about the incident; proactively coordinate with the National Children's Hospital to review the emergency procedures and current professional regulations of the unit to detect existing problems and limitations in expertise (if any), promptly correct and overcome them, and report to the Department of Health.

The Department of Health and the Provincial General Hospital worked with the person who brought baby MTA to the hospital and recorded a video reflecting the incident to clarify some related content.

Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital.

Hospital takes responsibility, suspends some medical staff

According to the report and verification results of the Provincial General Hospital (up to 8:00 a.m. on May 5), at 4:03 p.m. on May 3, the hospital received patient MTA (4 years old), who had a traffic accident (brought in by 2 other people), in the following condition: Awake, crying, no bleeding wound, abrasions in the left lower abdomen, abrasions on the right elbow.

The patient was examined at the Orthopedic Emergency Clinic and the General Surgery Emergency Clinic, then was assigned the following tests: abdominal CT-Scanner, chest CT-Scanner, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and blood test.

After performing paraclinical tests, the patient was diagnosed with multiple injuries: closed chest trauma, closed abdominal trauma due to a traffic accident. The patient continued to receive emergency treatment, resuscitation, intravenous fluids, and pain relief. At 5:45 p.m. the same day, the patient was transferred to the National Children's Hospital.

Regarding some contents related to handling administrative procedures for examination and emergency care of MTA patients, according to the report, initially, patients came in without any documents but were examined immediately (although they had not registered for examination and paid) and were assigned to do paraclinical tests.

Then, the hospital staff will guide the person who brought the patient to register for administrative procedures. During the examination, ordering of paraclinical tests and treatment, the person who brought the patient will have to pay an advance of 500,000 VND.

Baby MTA at Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital. Photo cut from clip

Hospital staff have performed administrative procedures on the Hospital Management Software System so that patients do not have to pay additional advance payments.

Medical staff discussed with each other to carry out administrative procedures for patients as follows: “Medical staff 1: Is the inpatient admission due to non-payment or what? Medical staff 2: Already paid 500,000. Medical staff 1: How can 500,000 be obtained?”

During the exchange between two medical staff, the person who brought the patient (the person filming) stood near the group of medical staff.

At around 5:00 p.m., the patient's parents arrived. The emergency medical team discussed the patient's condition with the family. The family agreed with the hospital's treatment plan to transfer the patient to a higher level.

The report stated that Nam Dinh General Hospital has accepted responsibility for the incident. Initially, the hospital has suspended a number of medical staff to clarify the incident.

The working group is continuing to verify and work with a number of related individuals to clarify the incident. Continue to review the process of receiving and handling emergency patients at MTA in particular and the process of emergency care, examination and treatment in general. Continue to improve the spirit, communication attitude and medical ethics of medical staff. Violations will be strictly handled according to regulations.

Source vietnamnet

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/vu-to-nop-du-tien-moi-cap-cuu-o-nam-dinh-dinh-chi-mot-so-nhan-vien-y-te-a189715.html