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I think this is main reason for the required medical escort (meaning so that the healthcare provider isn't liable if something happena to the patient within a set time after leaving the facility).
The issue is that the discharged patient still needs supervision post-procedure. The hotel associated with the hospital would have to have nursing staff checking regularly on the person (some do, and others mostly don't, have that).
I think this is main reason for the required medical escort (meaning so that the healthcare provider isn't liable if something happena to the patient within a set time after leaving the facility).
No, there are real medical reasons (some of the medications used are not fully metabolized at the time of discharge, and some of the changes in the brain induced by anesthesia take time to resolve). I had a minor surgery in my 20s, and could not keep awake for a week afterwards (granted, that was when barbiturates were still used, which have been replaced by shorter acting propofol).
Out patient procedures are a wonderful thing in terms of cost savings, convenience, and so forth, but they aren't always risk free.
People are still receiving pain meds, anesthetics and other drugs that may take several hours to wear off. There is also (depending upon type of procedure) risks of things such as nausea, vomiting, bleeding, and so on.
Thus for a host of reasons (usually down to liability) physicians performing certain out patient procedures require someone who will escort patient home and sometimes even remain for several hours to overnight afterwards.
Alternative is having things done in hospital (inpatient) which not only is more expensive but depending upon procedure insurance may not cover all or as much. Coloscopies nowadays are rarely performed in hospital unless there is a good reason why it cannot be done as outpatient.
Actually, there could be other possibilities, such as major medical facilities contracting with a car services for reduced rates as needed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chava61
Anyone who lives alone knows this is a problematic situation. One needs to ask even an acquaintance or neighbor if necessary. The other solution some medical facilities might let one wait there for a few hours before going home alone if the procedure is done early enough during the day.
In theory, this sounds like an obvious solution, but it curl be something private that the patient doesn't want others to know about, and - let's face it - in a city like NYC where everyone is busy, it's an imposition especially during the working day.
No, there are real medical reasons (some of the medications used are not fully metabolized at the time of discharge, and some of the changes in the brain induced by anesthesia take time to resolve). I had a minor surgery in my 20s, and could not keep awake for a week afterwards (granted, that was when barbiturates were still used, which have been replaced by shorter acting propofol).
Then they should be under medical supervision and not be discharged until they can be on their own!
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