Choice of Hospitals

[soreback]

I was quoted one cash price from St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, and a much larger cash price from Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles.

Has anyone had any experience with either of these hospitals so that I can make a determination if one offers better service than the other?

[ans]

Being an Angeleno, I'm under the impression that both are excellent hospitals. Good luck, ans

[letteski]

Soreback,

There may be a few reasons why you were quoted 2 different prices. Are you quoting the same prosthetic device? If one device is still in study you may not have to pay for it because the company picks up the cost for the device. This is what I have been told by patients in the continuation study of the prodisc.

Cedar Sinai uses nerve monitoring during surgery and not all hospitals have this technology. This and other things my cause of the price to change from one hospital to the other. Have you asked for a costs break down?

I understand that cost can be a big factor but my advice to you is to choose a doctor and a device and pray�! The hospital is just where the doctor works.

[ans]

Good point about the nerve monitoring Paulette. I wonder if St. John's can do it as part of the doctor's protocal - although I'm not exactly sure what n. monitoring does. - Allan

Soreback I was at the St. Johns hospital this past January and I was put in the new wing. There was only one bed in the room and a plasma screen tv. Although I don't remember what I was watching...

[soreback]

Thanks for the info everyone.

With only 2 weeks away from surgery, I am getting a bit nervous.

Hope I don't jump off the table before the procedure begins!!!

[Rein]

I'm a little confused. If you have a doctor already picked out and surgery scheduled, then why are you asking about which hospital at which to have the surgery done? Is your surgeon Dr. Delamarter and does he do procedures at both hospitals?

[ans]

Rein, I wouldn't be surprised if Delamarter had privileges at both hospitals. But Paulette brings up an interesting point: Cedars may be the only place where nerve analyzers are used. Now I don't know jack about this but Dano told me that this a very important monitoring device. I know this isn't answering your question.

[letteski]

Nerve monitoring is when electrodes are placed on your legs and arms to monitor the nerves during surgery. I think it is the blood levels and oxygen in the blood that they are watching. When nerves are stretch beyond their capacity blood levels and oxygen levels drop in your extremities and are alerted by the monitoring device. Pretty cool and I am all for this technology anything to help the doctors not over stretch my nerves. This is also being done in other hospitals through the country not just at Cedars. May want to ask your doctor about it.

[Dano]

Hospitals are graded on quality measures. These measures include both doctors� skill and hospital facilities available. They take into account many variables including morbidity, mortality and total outcomes. Cedars has the best quality measures for spine surgery and most other areas, of any hospital in California.

Nerve root monitoring does not measure blood flow, although it will indicate a lack of blood flow 200% sooner than pulse oxygen monitors. Nerve root monitoring involves measuring the electrical output of the nerves during surgery. It includes electrodes on your head, arms and legs and requires specialized computer equipment and a specially trained technician. It does add to the expense of spine surgery although, if a doctor does not use it I would look for one who does. Also, you must also include doctor�s fees in your cost estimate as these vary widely and remember all of the fees are negotiable!! Take care, Dano