Healthcare The difference between America and China

A hospital A traditional hospital is a large building that is not connected to other buildings. Hospitals are for emergencies (heart attack, car accident, serious injury, you are about to die) and surgeries.

A walk-in clinic means you don’t have to make an appointment. You can walk in anytime. Most you have to make an appointment. A Clinic Clinics are for small injuries or sicknesses. Stitches for a deep cut, prescription drugs for anxiety, etc. There is likely only one doctor. But there are medical assistants. The cost for one visit may be about $100 (600RMB)

Dentist office/Dental Clinic Hospitals don’t have dentists. Image by hin255 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Expensive ride An ambulance The national average cost of an ambulance ride is between $500 and $1,500. (3000 and 9000RMB) Might want to drive yourself if you can. Image by vectorolie at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Most of the rooms only have two beds. A hospital room. The average cost is $600 (3600RMB per day). That doesn’t include the doctor, tests, medicine, etc. A person may stay in a hospital for many days. (We don’t say ‘live’.)

Inpatient means you stay in the hospital at least one night. Outpatient vs Inpatient Outpatient means you stay in the hospital for a few hours or less. You don’t spend the night. Images by stockimages, Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In a hospital or clinic you pay after you get medical treatment. Image by Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Some people have health insurance. But hospitals don’t like insurance companies. Insurance companies don’t pay very fast. If you pay upfront and don’t use insurance hospitals will charge you a lot less money. Image by everydayplus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In China relatives stay and take care of patients in the hospital. In the West relatives don’t take care of the patient, nurses do this. Relatives just visit.

Take medicine (DON’T SAY-eat medicine) Image by foto76 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Costs Stitches In America a two-year-old got stitches after a fall at home. The bill for this treatment came to more than $2,000. Average Cost Per Inpatient Day Across 50 States in 2010 $1,800 (10,800RMB) Cost of an outpatient eye surgery for 1.5 hours in the hospital. It would be about double if using insurance. $3900 by paying upfront (23,400RMB) Image by africa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In China patients aren’t told if they are dying. In America they are told. Image by olovedog at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In China people may yell at or hit the doctor. In the West people will speak respectfully to the doctor but can sue the doctor. Image by David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In the West patients are given more anesthesia. Image by David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Advantages and Disadvantages China Regular physical examinations ( 身体检查 ) are affordable, problems are found early. United States Technology is better so medical care is higher quality. Images courtesy of alexisdc, nuttakit at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What has your or a family member’s experience with the medical field been?