Our friend who broke her femur got herself transferred out of the public hospital (where they had neither beds nor pins for the week) and into a reasonably upscale private one. Her surgery was last night and she left the hospital around 4:30 this afternoon by private ambulance. Total hospital costs, including the surgery team, were $2900, plus $65 for the ambulance that took her approximately 25 miles, to her home at the beach. Even I am surprised.