Tejas Jefe

Review of Baylor Scott & White - Hillcre...

I'm rating this as what it is - a HOSPITAL - not a...

I'm rating this as what it is - a HOSPITAL - not a dang restaurant, spa, cafe or whatever the heck else these reviewers are talking about!
Did you go there for brunch or to have a medical issue resolved?
Really?

This hospital (and it's surrounding Doctor's offices/services) is one of the most advanced, technically competent and humane/caring I've been in throughout my life. If this was a movie review it would be TWO THUMBS UP! If it were a hotel review it would be FIVE STARS!!

So * * * * * (5) stars for the professional, advanced, caring, skilled services which is after all is said and done, why you go to a hospital. To have competent Doctors patch you up in advanced, clean operating rooms; right?

BUT I can't stop there.
What about the other reality of our healthcare system? What about: is any of this good? great? useful? if you cannot afford it? Mmmmm! I LOVE that new Cadillac! Too bad I drive a 3-cylinder POS made in China because that's what I can AFFORD!

So, * (1) star for the PROHIBITIVELY, massive cost factor!

I have been sent here twice over the past six months for completely different procedures, Rx'd by two different Drs. The first procedure had an out of pocket (I hadda pay) cost of over $20,000.
TWENTY GRANDE was "my portion" of the bill.
The second procedure had an out of pocket cost over $8,200.

Some may argue this is a failure of my BS insurance which ironically, I paid for because it's "Scott & White Health Insurance" - dumb me for thinking the ins.co and the facility were somehow related and therefore a good combination to have.
Whatever.. More healthcare BS and red tape to deal with 'cause you ain't never gunna figure it out. Not even they themselves can figure out when a computer glitch happens in their own billing systems.

The dilemma is the hospital's planning, not their skilled/follow-thru. They MUST know the cost of these procedures are massive (remember those amounts were "my portion" is 20% of the bill, so the total cost of them was double, triple or more) and while they were awesome at "pre registering" me over the phone and being super at making sure I was aware of the dates, times, Doctors, et cetera involved; not one person ever bothered to mention "oh yeah, and .. um... you got an extra twenty grande laying around for when you come in; cuz, we ain't lifting a pinky until you pay "YOUR PORTION".
No. Instead it goes like this:
Dripping with honey, wall-to-wall-caring-professionals get you signed up for a massive medical bill. Smiling and holding your hand the whole way until you are sat in the "registration room" with a healthcare-closer-car-sales woman who pulls out the big gun and points it at your head and says "how you gunna pay for this sucka?"

Should be called "Oh BLAM-OH care" because I felt like such a sucker for having believed all their caring, loving, smiles were sincerely aimed at solving some medical condition.

What's the net-result? I freakin' stormed out of that hospital TWICE in the past six months, furious, blood-pressure through the roof and embarrassed (what's that saying again? fool me once, fool me twice...).

You look mahvelous darlink! What's that smokin' atomic hole in your wallet from? Did you sell your house, mortgage your kids? Nice....