ERRORS IN THE HOSPITAL?

With this, why would I not fault doctors for most of the inconsistencies that arise after people visit the hospitals; deaths, deterioration of already ill patients, or permanent disabilities.

My experience at the Korle Bu polyclinic has given credence to some of the fears I had about hospitals, especially of government-run health facilities.

the laboratory area of korle-bu polyclinic

Before applying for admission into the Ghana Institute of Journalism some two years ago, I had a medical examination done at the University of Ghana hospital, as a prerequisite for entry.

One of the prominent issues arising from the results of that examination was that I tested positive for sickle cell, not that i was a shockprised, especially when I knew my elder brother had the traits upon his own examination, but the time at which I got to know this was someway.

I am not the type who does hospitals, largely due to the abundant grace and blessings of the Almighty, I hardly fall ill.

Papa has been concerned about the whole sickle cell condition, and had always hammered that I went for the test to be certain of my phenotype so I could be better advised on my nutritional and lifestyle regimes. This concern was aggravated further when he watched an episode of health-du-cative television programme,Vodafone healthline,which was concentrated on the condition.

I decided to go for this Hemoglobin Electrophoresis test at the Korle Bu polyclinic on Monday.

First,I was told I compulsorily needed a doctor’s request before I could have the test done.I was baffled,and clueless about how the system worked.So I enquired from one of the guys at the facility,who directed me to the laboratory area.

After speaking to one of the doctors about what I had come to do,he wrote a note (Hb Electrophoresis) and an account number and asked me to pay twenty cedis at the accounts office, and then at the localized merchant bank in the polyclinic’s OPD area.

payment order at the localised merchant bank on the hospital premises

The doctors appeared busier than the proverbial worker ant, attending to patient after patient. I waited until it was my turn and then the doctor did his thing, he drew the blood off my vein and all of that into a tube and inscribed my initials and code, sort of.

“Come on Wednesday morning with your receipt for the results”, his colleague said, after the one who was attending to us had stepped out, due to pressure from a patient who could not find her results, despite availing her receipt and all.

It was Wednesday morning, at about eleven I arrived at the polyclinic and demanded my results.

“Wait over there, he will be with you soon”, said Dr. Agyeman.

I heard my name being mentioned from inside the chamber, voilà! My report was given to me, stapled.

I took off the pin and realized on the face of the result, my gender had been mixed up. I wondered, couldn’t they have inferred from my name at least that I was male?

result slip of the electrophoresis test with the gender mix-up

When I confronted the doctor, he told me it was a mere typo. SERIOUSLY????

How sure am I that the result belongs to me anyway?

Then I remembered the issue about the lady who has permanently been incapacitated after a surgical device was left inside her, during an operation at the 37-military hospital.

I remembered the missing baby saga, how poor Suweiba got her new born ‘missing’ after some piece of professional negligence on the part of doctors at the Konfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Though mine was just a mix-up, it could have been worse. I am still questioning the authenticity of the result, perhaps it genuinely may have been for a female patient.

If the doctor-to-patient ratio is over the top, is it not better we get more professionals to manage the situation, rather the stress on very few health professionals, which inadvertently leads to all these typos, mix-ups,and sometimes death of patients………………….???????????????????/??

Maybe I would have to have another electrophoresis test done at another hospital, just to be sure.