30 Things We Only See In Hospital

Glowing Exit Signs

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In the hushed, shadowy corridors of hospitals, those glowing green exit signs become beacons of hope. They guide the way through the labyrinthine hallways, silently reassuring you that a way out is never far. It's a peculiar comfort, knowing that even in the darkest of times, there's always an illuminated path to safety.

Antiseptic Smell

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The antiseptic aroma in hospitals is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's the olfactory assurance that cleanliness reigns supreme, a vital element in the battle against infection. Yet, it's also a poignant reminder of home, where cleanliness carries a cozier scent, devoid of the clinical undertone that pervades the hospital air.

IV Poles on Wheels

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IV poles are the unsung heroes of hospitals, always by the side of patients, like trusty companions on an unpredictable journey. With wheels that glide smoothly across tiled floors, they ferry life-sustaining fluids, bridging the gap between illness and recovery. These unassuming poles symbolize resilience in motion.

Elevator Chatter

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Hospitals may be quiet places, but their elevators are vocal, announcing floor numbers with a brisk, computerized voice. It's a strangely friendly gesture, as if the elevators want to make sure you never miss your stop, even if your mind is preoccupied with the weight of medical concerns.

Patient Gowns

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Patient gowns, those universally unflattering garments, unite people from all walks of life in a shared fashion debacle. With their open-back design and lack of sartorial elegance, they level the playing field, reminding us that vulnerability knows no dress code.

Disposable Bed Linens

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In hospitals, beds are more than just places to rest; they are islands of recovery. The crisp, white sheets and pillowcases, changed daily, are a testament to the unwavering commitment to hygiene. They cocoon patients in a sense of cleanliness, inviting healing slumber amidst the clinical chaos.

Hand Sanitizer Dispensers

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A symphony of wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers greets you at every turn in the hospital. It's a reassuring sight, a testament to the commitment to infection control. With a simple push, a dollop of germ-fighting liquid emerges, providing a sense of safety in a world of unseen threats.

Medical Charts

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Behind the scenes, in a world of white coats and stethoscopes, stacks of medical charts hold the stories of patients' lives. Carefully managed by the nursing staff, these charts are a treasure trove of vital information, a lifeline for doctors making critical decisions, and a testament to the meticulous record-keeping that underpins modern healthcare.

Overhead Paging

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In the hospital's bustling symphony, overhead paging is the constant hum of urgency. Doctors are summoned to specific areas, codes are announced, and Mr. Johnson is paged to the front desk for a message from a worried family member. It's a reminder that every moment counts in the realm of healthcare.

Gurneys in the Hallway

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Hospital hallways can resemble highways during rush hour, with gurneys temporarily parked like cars in a traffic jam. These rolling beds ferry patients to different wards, creating a choreographed ballet of healthcare on the move. It's a tangible reminder that the hospital never sleeps.

Digital Thermometers

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Nurses wield digital thermometers like wizards, casting spells to reveal the body's temperature secrets. These trusty devices offer a quick peek into your state of health with their swift and accurate readings. They're a testament to the precision that modern medicine brings to the art of healing.

Syringe Bins

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Amid the sea of medical equipment, brightly colored syringe bins stand out as beacons of safety. They're a vivid reminder of the importance of responsible disposal of used needles and syringes, protecting both healthcare workers and the environment from potential harm.

EKG Monitors

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In the hushed corners of patient rooms, EKG monitors create a rhythmic symphony with their blips and beeps. These electronic maestros keep a vigilant watch over patients' vital signs, offering a reassuring soundtrack to the delicate dance between life and illness.

Waiting Room Magazines

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In the tension-filled atmosphere of the waiting room, outdated magazines serve as passports to distraction. As you flip through pages filled with celebrity gossip and long-forgotten news, they offer a temporary escape from the worries that brought you to the hospital in the first place.

Hospital Cafeteria

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The hospital cafeteria is a culinary enigma. It's a place where the food options can range from surprisingly good, with chefs whipping up surprisingly delicious dishes, to questionable at best, leaving you pondering if that mystery meat is worth the risk. In this unique dining arena, you can savor both gourmet surprises and dining adventures.

Telemetry Units

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Telemetry units are like the heart's personal DJ, broadcasting its rhythms for all to hear. These wired-up contraptions, adorned with electrodes, tirelessly monitor a patient's heart rate and rhythm. They are a silent sentinel, ensuring that any irregularities are detected and addressed promptly, often without the patient even noticing.

Sanitization Stations

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In the age of hygiene consciousness, hospitals are brimming with sanitization stations. Countless setups offering disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizers, and face masks beckon all to indulge in good hygiene practices. It's a collective effort, reminding everyone to be vigilant guardians against invisible foes.

Nurse Call Buttons

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Nurse call buttons are like magic wands for patients in need. With a simple push, they summon the assistance of the dedicated nursing staff. These unassuming buttons hold the power to connect patients with the care they require, ensuring that help is just a fingertip away, even in the quietest hours of the night.

Medical Waste Bins

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Large and imposing, medical waste bins stand sentinel in clinical areas. They are designated guardians for the disposal of contaminated materials, from used dressings to disposable instruments. These bins ensure that no trace of potentially harmful waste lingers, maintaining safety for all within the hospital's walls.

Privacy Curtains

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In shared rooms, privacy curtains are more symbolic than soundproof. While they might not block out all noise, they provide a semblance of privacy in an otherwise communal space. These curtains are silent witnesses to moments of vulnerability and intimacy, offering a modicum of comfort in shared recovery spaces.

X-ray Light Boxes

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X-ray light boxes are the windows into the hidden world beneath the skin. Illuminating medical images with a soft, eerie glow, they reveal the mysteries that lie within the human body. These screens are like the storytellers of the medical world, narrating tales of fractures, ailments, and the path to healing.

Wheelchairs Everywhere

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In hospitals, wheelchairs are a ubiquitous presence. They stand ready like loyal steeds, waiting to transport patients or visitors who need respite from walking. These rolling chairs offer a sense of mobility and independence, ensuring that those with limited strength can still traverse the labyrinthine halls of the medical world.

Doctors' White Coats

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A doctor's white coat is more than just clothing; it's a symbol of expertise and compassion. This iconic attire instantly commands respect and trust, conveying a sense of authority and reassurance. It's a garment that embodies the commitment to healing and carries the weight of medical knowledge.

Nurses' Scrubs

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In the sea of clinical white, nurses' scrubs burst forth like vibrant blooms. These vibrantly colored uniforms add a pop of brightness to the hospital landscape, injecting a dose of cheer into an otherwise sterile environment. They are the colorful embodiment of the caring hearts behind them.

Crinkling Disposable Gloves

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The crinkling sound of disposable gloves being snapped into place is the overture to a medical performance. It's a symphony of readiness, a reminder that healthcare professionals are gearing up to provide precise care. That unmistakable sound signifies the boundary between sterility and the human touch.

MRI Machines

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MRI machines are colossal, enigmatic giants in the world of diagnostics. They emit strange, rhythmic noises as they work their magic, creating detailed images of the body's interior. In their mechanical symphony, they capture the invisible, offering a glimpse into the mysteries that lie beneath the skin.

Hospital Wristbands

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Sometimes colorful, sometimes white but still unassuming, hospital wristbands are the identity badges of patients. They bear your name, your allergies, your medical history, and in times of vulnerability, they become your temporary shield and connection to the world of healthcare. These bands hold crucial information and offer a lifeline to caregivers.

Handwashing Posters

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Handwashing posters are silent educators that adorn the hospital's walls. They are educational reminders, emphasizing the importance of thorough handwashing in the battle against infection. These visual aids quietly advocate for good hygiene practices, reinforcing the message that clean hands can be lifesavers.

Occupied Signs on Restrooms

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In the hustle and bustle of the hospital, little red "occupied" signs are saviors of dignity and privacy. They prevent awkward encounters, sparing you from walking in on someone in the most private of moments. These unassuming signs are courteous sentinels, preserving the sanctity of restroom breaks.

Life-Saving Heroes

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Amid the clinical surroundings, the true stars of the hospital shine brightest. The dedicated medical professionals who tirelessly work to ensure the health and well-being of patients are a sight that transcends the ordinary. These life-saving heroes are the heartbeat of the hospital, embodying compassion, skill, and unwavering commitment to healing.

Secrets about hospitals you need to know: teaching hospitals can actually be better

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A lot of people can think teaching hospitals are the 'lesser' to go to because you feel like you want more qualified doctors than people still learning who might make mistakes. The truth is, for a lot of complicated treatment, teaching hospitals are better because there are residents on hand to avoid errors, more questions asked and more things done to prevent errors.

Don't take sanitization for granted

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When you're in a hospital, you'd like to think that it's already as sanitary as it could possibly be - yet despite hospital's best practices to stay very clean indeed, germs can still be transferred easily, and you'll want to do your own part with sanitization, like taking alcohol wipes to use on your bed rails, door knobs, elevator buttons... everything!

You can (and should) ask to be involved in shift change

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Shift changes mean that nurses are swapping notes in order for one to take over from the other and know what's happened so far. You can actually asked to have that conversation happen by your bed, so that you can make sure all information shared is accurate and add your own if needed - it makes for better communication!

It's better if you don't chit chat (even if you're just being nice)

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If you have a doctor or a nurse working by your bedside and you don't have an illness or injury that's making it hard to think or talk, you might naturally want to chit chat, ask about your condition or just make small talk. It's polite and you mean well, but at the end of the day it's a distraction for them, especially if they're preparing medications!

Nurses are more overwhelmed than you already think

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It's no secret that nurses in hospitals are VERY overworked and underpaid, but it might be worse than you thought. Nurses are often given more patients than they can easily handle, which means they can't give as much dedicated time and focus to individual patients as they should.

Surprisingly, admin staff can make the most

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Hospital administrators actually make a huge amount of money, and it's actually around a quarter of the money hospitals make that goes towards paying administrators for what they do. Top earners like CEOs of hospitals can make on average around $400,000 to $500,000 a year.

Being pushed into over-treating is actually a thing

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Hospital bosses often 'encourage' their doctors and surgeons to take on more and more patients for treatment, or do more operations. This is because a lot of hospitals get bonuses for the higher amount of patients treated. This means a lot of doctors feel pressured/obliged to treat more patients.

Be careful about out-of-network billing

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If you're having treatment where a lot of different people are involved - and even though you personally chose your in-house doctor - there's still a chance you could get billed for a lot of outside the network people, like assistant surgeons or anesthesiologists. You'll then get billed a higher rate for anyone outside of the hospital's network!

Being admitted versus under observation

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Just because you're spending time in the hospital doesn't mean you've been officially 'admitted', and this can affect how things are paid for or covered by insurance for some people. You need to be officially admitted to get things like Medicare to cover additional treatment, so always ask if you're being admitted.

You should always ask whether visits from consults are necessary

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If your doctor says that they're calling in a consult for an extra opinion, make sure to question this and whether any extra visits are necessary - because you're going to be paying for it, and it's going to mount up if those specialists are turning up every single day to your bedside!

And you should definitely ask what would get you discharged quicker

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It's always good to know how you can get out of the hospital faster so you don't rack up anymore bills, and the doctors will be going off certain criteria to know when to release you, such as 'when you can stand up and walk by yourself'. It helps if you know that, so you can get trying to accomplish it quicker!

It's worth checking that hospital bill

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We know it's mundane and picky work, but it's worth going through that bill line by line. There might be a single error, like a charge for a medication you definitely didn't take, but it's still something you shouldn't be paying for. Errors like that might be down to you to find!

Question every test

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If your doctor tells you they're ordering a test, it's absolutely fine to ask them why - in fact, you should! Ask what the test is for, and what would be different if you had it/didn't have. That's because a lot of tests aren't needed and won't change the outcome, so you don't want to pay for it.

Most hospitals are going for aesthetic appeal

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A lot of medical facilities these days are swanky private clinics or private centers, and mainstream hospitals have to find a way to still attract patients - which is where the aesthetics come in. So if you're wondering why the waiting room of your hospital is filled with water features, a random piano and a questionable color scheme, that's why.

The ER really has seen it all

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Don't be embarrassed about anything where the ER is concerned, because they really have seen it all - both things nobody can help, and things people consciously do. Nurses and doctors in the ER have seen a lot of nudity, a lot of questionable items in questionable places, and even been hit on!

Just like anywhere else, VIPs get special treatment

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Hospitals will have VIP patients, and if they're in there at the same time as you, they're going to get the preferential treatment! VIP patient requests are priority, which means doctors and nurses are expect to respond to their every whim first - before other patients.

Surgeons actually multi-task and do more than one surgery at once...

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If you've been thinking your own personal surgeon stays with you from start to finish for your procedure, think again. Some surgeons might actually be doing somebody else's surgery at the same time, which is why they might not be present for 100% of your own procedure.

The doctors hate electronic records

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Paperwork in any form is annoying, but electronic records are particularly annoying for doctors and nurses. It can be a tedious process for ticking electronic boxes, and a lot of doctors resent is as they feel tickable answers don't give a full overview of the situation for other doctors to see.

It's turning more into 'customer service'

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Just like with that hotel reception aesthetic vibe we spoke about, a lot of hospitals have had to move into the more 'customer service' frame of mind, because of health insurers putting more focus on patient satisfaction surveys. This makes it difficult because often what's best for the patient isn't the thing they'll be most happy about.

You should bring your own notebook and log EVERYTHING

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We know this isn't top of your priority list if you're in for something painful and uncomfortable, but if you've been officially admitted, keeping your own notebook log can be helpful for checking your bill later. You can write down everyone who has come to see you, and what has been said.