These Tips have been unapologetically critical of some/most non-profit Health Systems for their focus on revenues and the bottom line.

With a ringside seat to a loved one’s surgery this week, I’m prepared to refocus my pique.

The doctors, nurses and aides at a local hospital were astonishingly compassionate and professional. The quality of care, extraordinary.

To this observer, the care-givers sole focus is for their patients’ well-being. Really comforting.

That said, the cost of this exceptional care is still the issue.

And, if you’re paying attention, evidence of the Bean-counters’ priorities slap you in the face. To wit; drawing blood samples in pre-op twice in 30 minutes to confirm blood type.

Me to nurse: “Didn’t you just do that?” Nurse: “Well, it’s not like her blood type could change, but we just want to make certain!”

(Here’s where you insert smiley face . . . . . . or tears!)

Again, I can’t overstate the quality of care I witnessed this week. (Call if you’re curious where.)

The question is, can we afford it? 

P.S. Let’s see if we can even get an itemized bill and identify other ‘types’ of padding. Stay tuned.