NEJM presents an interesting case. It is also in a NEJM video. It is about leptospirosis, a bacterial infection having crossed the Rio Grande. They note:
When the patient was discharged 6 weeks after his initial presentation, the urine volumes were normal and the creatinine level remained elevated at 2.3 mg per deciliter (203.3 μmol per liter). One month later, in clinic, he appeared healthy. He had mild normocytic anemia but the results of other laboratory studies were normal, including the rest of the complete blood count and tests of kidney and liver function.
Yes, the patient was hospitalized for six weeks, 42 days. Now typical hospital costs are well above $25,000 per day at MGH so we are looking at a $1 million plus bill.
My question: who pays for this? Just a thought.
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