02-12-2008, 10:14 AM
I can only share my own experience...I went to the ER at Hilo Hospital last summer, and received excellent treatment. Besides the quality of care, from the time it took me to walk in the door to the time I left the facility was 55 minutes. It took almost that long to fill the prescription at the local drugstore.
Anecdotal horror stories like the ones you posted, Damon, can be found pretty much everywhere. Just like there are a few bad cops, bad firefighters, bad teachers, etc., there are a few doctors in most communities who shouldn't have a license to practise medicine, and the one in your first link isn't even there anymore.
Before I passed judgement on Hilo Hospital or any other facility, I'd want to look at some numbers, or look at a reference from an independant rating agency, like this one: <edit> Link deleted 'cuz it sucks, and fooled me into thinking it was independant. <edit> There are many other similar rating agencies, and there are statistical reports out there which can be Googled up, too.
I haven't done a thorough review of all possible forms of information, but based on the care that I received, the remodel construction that I saw (indicating funding and a commitment from management), the accreditation that they have, and the review of the above-mentioned website, I'd say Hilo Hospital is okay to pretty good. They have an above-average rating for the care of heart failure, but below-standard for the care of pneumonia, for example. I'm sure that the quality of care you receive depends on time of day, day of the week, what your ailment is, which doctor is on call for that ailment, etc.
I'm glad I'm not a hospital administrator. ;-)
Aloha! ;-)
Anecdotal horror stories like the ones you posted, Damon, can be found pretty much everywhere. Just like there are a few bad cops, bad firefighters, bad teachers, etc., there are a few doctors in most communities who shouldn't have a license to practise medicine, and the one in your first link isn't even there anymore.
Before I passed judgement on Hilo Hospital or any other facility, I'd want to look at some numbers, or look at a reference from an independant rating agency, like this one: <edit> Link deleted 'cuz it sucks, and fooled me into thinking it was independant. <edit> There are many other similar rating agencies, and there are statistical reports out there which can be Googled up, too.
I haven't done a thorough review of all possible forms of information, but based on the care that I received, the remodel construction that I saw (indicating funding and a commitment from management), the accreditation that they have, and the review of the above-mentioned website, I'd say Hilo Hospital is okay to pretty good. They have an above-average rating for the care of heart failure, but below-standard for the care of pneumonia, for example. I'm sure that the quality of care you receive depends on time of day, day of the week, what your ailment is, which doctor is on call for that ailment, etc.
I'm glad I'm not a hospital administrator. ;-)
Aloha! ;-)
Aloha! ;-)