Earlier this year, I spent a reasonable amount of time in a premier health institute in India during my father’s treatment and recovery. While the technology, set up, and level of expertise was no doubt world class, the bedside manners of the staff was horrible.
First of all, the physicians think they are god. To access them is close to impossible, and when you do get a hold of them to discuss your father’s progress, they talk to you as if they’re doing you a favor and in a language where if you didn’t have some basic medical knowledge, you’d understand nothing. You ask questions, they look at you as if you’re stupid, you ask for treatment plans/options, they take phonecalls from their family members and wave at you saying “I’m done with you, now get out.”
Then, attending staff, omg, they can kill a patient with their hyper and insensitive choice of words, and head movements.
What’s with that? Aren’t they taught any interpersonal skills? Or do they just forget everything once they are hired?
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
I agree.
The way some patients are treated as if they’re cattle. I think its the general attitude too, e.g. in Pakistan there is no concept of saying ‘thanks’ or ‘welcome’ etc and I find it rude too. But maybe I am spoiled from living here
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
you are saving money with desi hospitals......so you gotta accept some of the shortcomings.....as far as i know.....the hospitals in other countries charge way too much..
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
Niksikjiii,It depends and varies and from places to places and hospitals to hospitals.
My experience was otherwise.I had hospitalised my father in one of the leading hospitals in South India and the kind of treatment and they way they responsed was absolutely professional and beyond words.
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
Like I said, my negative experience was just in regards to the attitude not treatment. I’m sure Southern hospital staff is more humble Arleitter. People in North India are pretty stuck up …really .
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
I recently had similar experience with my daughter's paediatric .....two times it happened he got angry at us as if we are his slaves or something. The patient is not suppose to ask any question and should follow his advise blindly ......that's the way he wanted....well I changed her doc I don't pay 1,200 rs per visit just to see his tantrums.
I think you find good and bad people everywhere.....after my c section when I woke up a nurse came and started telling me about how cute my daughter is and how she was crying and all those words from her matter so much to me as i was in stress and was very worried for my baby...she just wanted to make me smile and feel better but on the other hand some hospital staff was quite emotion less and rigid.
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
The doctors here mostly 99% very nice and humble, take their time to explain the stuff to you and very professional, the nurses in other hands are fifty fifty, you can get a very nice one, or someone with a very high attitude and looking down at you. This is my experience with hospitals each time giving birth.
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
about the doctors thinking they are god, one time when i was in india visiting family we saw a family doctor friend in the store, when i referred to him as mr. ---------- by accident he pretended like he didn’t even hear me, oh but as soon i added the “dr.” title in his hearing started working again. they are high on themselves ohhhhhhh the arrogance off topic but just wanted to mention it
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
my nani was hospitalised in mumbai for about a month last year, and every single hospital staff I encountered went above and beyond the call of duty. from the doctors to the nurses who cared for her to the attendants who dressed, fed and bathed her, everyone was good at their job and did it cheerfully. there was this one lady doctor who was a little snooty but she was professional. the other two doctors gave us their cards when we took her home, and said that we could call them in any emergency. this was at a government hospital, and while it wasn't fancy, it had excellent medical facilities and the staff was great - even the accounting staff, when it was time to pay the bill and adjust the insurance paperwork and all, were very professional (even though they looked at me like sharks til i'd paid the last penny).
my friend had her mother's operation done in the best private clinic/hospital in lucknow, and she had a horror story to tell. from bribery to medical malpractice to billing fraud she went through every hell imaginable.
my father-in-law was hospitalised in one of the best hospitals in the US earlier this year for about 20 days, and truth be told, the bedside manner of the attendants he had was overall worse. most of his attendants were okay, but there was this one nurse who had me furious... she wouldn't bring his meals on time, she wasn't receptive to questions, was callous in the way she handled him, etc. his doctors were wonderful, however.
1) yes, people do tend to be annoyingly curious and blunt in india, but i think that's just the way people are over there, and the locals are used to it, even if we NRIs aren't.
2) i can't say if this is a north/south issue, but i would say that spending top dollar and going to a private hospital anywhere in India doesn't guarantee good treatment and comfort... you have to do your research. it helps a great deal if you have a contact at the hospital - doctor/administrative staff, politician, etc. it makes a difference to the way you are received and also to the care and comfort the patient can expect.
3) i didn't see that much of a difference in the bedside manner of hospital staff in the US vs. hospital staff in India. And here too, it makes a difference if you know someone who works at the hospital. Your turn in the emergency room comes faster, and you can get a nicer room when admitted, etc.
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
Ive never been to India and havent had the need for any healthcare in Pakistan so I cannot say for them.
In the US though, I have had some negative experiences and extremely positive ones as well...Im beginning to think its about the institution and the culture they promote.
Some will go above and beyond to accomodate while others will just treat you like a number. A bed they need to empty as soon as possible.
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
I truly think that this is one of the things that depends on teh place you go to and the staff, rather than the country/culture.
My husband and I had to go to the hospital a few years back when we were in pak, it was kind of an emergency, and we were seen within minutes...
Last year I was hospitalized twice (here in NY), and within minutes I was seen by a doc...didn't have to wait hours like I thought I would....but even in those two visits, some drs/staff were nice and others were lacking the bedside manner...
Re: Bedside manners and general attitude of physicians/staff in Indian hospitals
is it just me or in pakistan do a lot of doctors prescribe injections/needles a lot? last year i had bad food poisoning that wouldnt clear up and the doctor sent us home with injections. a local maulvani injected me, made no difference to me being ill and didnt go back to her cos it bloody hurt!
…really 
.
ohhhhhhh the arrogance 
off topic but just wanted to mention it