What Is A VIP Patient?

First of all, allow me to reintroduce myself:

I am not an insurance agent. I repeat, I am not an insurance agent. My wife and I do own an insurance agency. My wife is the licensed agent. I am in the medical field at prominent hospital in the state of Texas. My wife has a great enthusiasm for the field of insurance that it has spilled over on me. And because of this, I am able to relate her experience as an agent to my experience as a healthcare provider.

I notice something about everyday at the hospital and how it applies to the insurance profession. Sometimes, I dream of doing what my wife does. I don't feel I would be as good as she, but it is something that I think about from time to time. But back to my insight for today, "Is there really such a thing as a VIP patient?" Let me say that again, "Is there such a thing as a very important patient"? That still doesn't sound right. In the past two weeks, I have heard this phrase used from a doctor and also a hospital administrator. It's very alarming to me because I have been in the healthcare field for over 17 years (over 9 years in the Navy as a corpsman), and have never heard this mentioned before. Of course in the Navy, if a Captain is onboard for a procedure, everyone treats that patient different. This is mainly due to the great amount of respect for that officer's position.

I have recently witnessed a doctor gushing over a patient only because of that patient's financial position. I have a problem when there is a distinct variance in treatment because of the financial status of a patient. Is a wealthy person's life more valuable than that of a homeless person? I think not, but sadly that is what I am witnessing as of late. As stated in one of my earlier posts, I have seen doctors reluctantly and in some cases, even refuse to treat a patient because of that person's inability to pay.

It is wise to get health insurance. Most physicians are professional and do what is in the best interest of all patients. But you do have a few that see "stars" when they view one patient more important than another one. Some doctors know the billing codes better than the person doing the actual billing. Why is that? Because the sad reality is that is "all about the dollar".