Medical Care Merida Style
In the past two days, the Working Gringos have had two medical experiences; one of them was comfortingly similar to experiences we have had in the States, and the other was a bit different. The first was a mammogram. You can probably imagine which one of us went for this procedure. The mammogram took place in a company that specializes in X-rays, CAT scans, ultrasounds, etc. The outfit occupies an old turn-of-the-century building with the de rigeur (around here) pasta tile floors. The small rooms that are traditional in these old houses and line the central corridor are perfect for a series of examining rooms. Inside the rooms, the interior decoration consists of modern imaging equipment mixed with fifty year old chairs and tables, the kind you would see in an old episode of Mayberry R.F.D. if Opie had to go to the doctor.Once inside the room for the mammogram, the procedures and efficiency were pretty much the same. Do this, stand here, lift that arm, wait. Thank you very much. Nothing new or different in that regard, comfortingly modern, all for $850 pesos (about $80 US) paid up front in cash.
A note about health insurance may be of interest here. We pay health insurance to a Mexican corporation called GNP. Our insurance has a high deductible ($3,000 US) and doesn't cover anything preventative (thus the payment for the mammogram). That deductible is for the first $3,000 of any problem that we may have. If we are diagnosed with cancer, a hernia or a broken arm, we pay the first three thousand dollars. After that, GNP pays everything for that problem. Everything. And not only in Mexico. It pays everything anywhere in the world where we may choose to get treatment. For this service, we each pay about $2,200 US a year. So far, we haven't needed this insurance and we hope we never do, but we could someday.
The other medical event happened last night. Arvi (in the blue shirt), the young 18-year old Yucateco who walks our dog URL every afternoon, came home after a particularly rambunctious paseo (walk) with a big gash on his foot. He had apparently run into one of the pieces of iron, which he called a hierro (the word for 'iron'), that just sticks up out of the sidewalk or out of a lawn. His big toe was bleeding and he was in a bit of pain. We sat Arvi down and cleaned the toe, and then we discussed tetanus. He couldn't remember the last time he had had a tetanus shot, so we all decided one was in order. We drove Arvi to one of the big farmacias (pharmacies) down by the central mercado. For $90 pesos, we bought 2 tetanus shots, a syringe, a big bag of cotton balls, a bottle of alcohol and another of hydrogen peroxide (the last two recommended by the pharmacist upon hearing what the problem was). Then we suggested we had to go to a doctor so Arvi could get his injection, but Arvi had another idea.
One of his friends, Javier, is a medic by training, but he is currently running his family's chain of convenience and guayabera stores. Javier was behind the counter at the convenience store at 7:30 PM. Upon hearing the story and examining the contents of Arvi's bag of purchases, Javier loaded up the syringe and brought Arvi into the back room. We waited in the front by the potato chips. A minute later, Arvi emerged with his grin intact and a reminder from Javier to come back in a month for his booster shot. Mucho gustos were exchanged, and we were off.
Another note is perhaps in order here. We Working Gringos got our tetanus boosters this year in our office. A very efficient young lady in a nurse's uniform came by one day and knocked on our office door. She was paid by the IMSS, a Mexican government social services agency, and was going door to door administering tetanus shots to whomever agreed to get them. But, we explained, we are extranjeros (strangers, foreigners). " Ni modo", said she. This program is for everyone. So we dutifully accepted our free tetanus boosters and she went on to the next household.
Now, class, compare and contrast how this experience would have gone down in Central California where we moved from four years ago. Someone cuts their foot. The wound is not too bad so no emergency room services are required, thank goodness. But a tetanus shot is definitely in order. If we go to our regular doctor, we might have to wait a week or two for an appointment. Forgetting whether or not we should even wait that long, the doctor visit would probably cost about $25 (if we have insurance, and a lot more if we don't, as Arvi doesn't) and the shot would be extra. And getting to see someone would take a lot longer. On the other hand, perhaps the conditions are more sterile and the oversight and knowledge of the attending physician, once you get to him or her, will be more thorough. And needless to say, we have *never* had anyone come to our door in California and offer to give us a tetanus shot for free.
So where does this leave us? The jury is out. For routine daily medical problems, we think Mexico provides more than adequate care in an environment that is hassle-free and respects our ability to think for ourselves. Most medicine can be obtained without a prescription. Pharmacists are educated and knowledgeable and act as medical advisors for the people who come to them with minor complaints. Doctors in Mexico, in our experience so far, are well-educated (most of them with some time spent in the US), caring and knowledgeable. If we came down with a major disease or needed special surgery, however, we would probably elect to get treatment back in the US or Europe. (With our policy, we have a choice!).
And in the meantime, we now know where to go if we need someone to administer an injection. And we can even pick up a coke and bag of chips to make it all feel better afterwards.
Tetanus boosters needed by older folks
Comments
Working Gringos 14 years ago
Bob, we have found one place that says they do hair transplants:
http://clinicadelcampestre.com.mx/seccion/
The website is in Spanish... and we are still investigating. There are more than a few plastic surgeons here in Merida, so give us a few days and we'll find someone that does this.
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Bob 14 years ago
I am planning on visiting Merida this fall. I am considering hair restoration treatments, but I cant seem to find any doctors in Merida that do this kind of procedure. Do you have any ideas? (I thought that some plastic surgeions might have this kind of practice but I can't seem to find plastic surgeons in Merida either)
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r felangie 15 years ago
Looking for a plastic surgeon in merida for a facelift... also a surgeon to do gastric or lapband surgery in merida. aAny suggestions?
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Carlos Daniel Gallegos 15 years ago
To YL Readers, when I refered to paying la4rge sums of dollars at CMA, for what I thought was sub standard care, in no way reflects the hard work the nurses and medical team at CMA did un caring for me. I also spent a day or two in a room at CMA, for care of my open wound problem of my feet. The Nurses, Doctor, and Staff were great. Let's just say, the care is different. Here in Texas, I go to a Podiatrist. The Doctor at CMA, that cared for my feet, was a Vascular Specialist. Casi Yucateca is right in that, if it were not for Medicare (www.medicare.gov), my Medical Expenses would be very great. The Doctor's and Nurses at IMSS T1 and The IMSS Clinic in Colonia Chuburna Hidalgo, were also wonderful in their care and respect given to me as a Patient. I also give great thanks for my wife, Ariadna, because she gave me the gift of IMSS, I did not have to pay out of pocket at Hospitals like CMA or Clinica de Merida. :-)
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CasiYucateco 16 years ago
Just to add a note about my one of my experiences:
I once needed an ambulance, which took me from a friend's home to CMA. The ambulance arrived with two attendants and an ER doctor. I was too tall for the stretcher and my feet touched the door. The siren may not have been loud enough. I prefer to travel with loud sirens, when I am moving head first through traffic.
I arrived at CMA where I was rushed into a well air conditioned room and all my clothes were removed with the curtain drawn. The curtain was new, utterly clean and light blue. This was pleasing.
Many young people gathered now and again outside my curtain and spoke about me. The basic question asked was "What happened to the gringo?" (I actually don't know that they said "gringo" but I knew they were talking about me.) And the basic reply was, "He fell down?" "ohhhh...." This was accurate and did not reveal any private matters needlessly (not that there was anything of interest to be told anyway).
I was seen by another doctor who spoke perfect English. He correctly diagnosed me, started treatment, and checked back on me in the ER. So did the ambulance-riding ER doctor.
I was then moved to a private room. It was a very nice room, faintly smelling of disinfectant. I could not see out into the courtyard -- I assume it was a courtyard -- but I could hear birds singing the rest of the afternoon. While in the private room, I was seen by yet a third doctor who seemed to be a bit more of a specialist. He also spoke English, but by now my senses had recovered enough that I could speak Spanish somewhat well again.
The 3rd doctor confirmed that the earlier diagnoses were correct after asking a number of questions. At various times, nurses would come in to take my temperature or whatnot. They were all genuinely concerned about "their" gringo. I think they came in groups because I was somewhat of a tourist attraction in reverse.
After a pleasant night of listening to birds singing (I'm nearly sure that wasn't just in my head), I was examined again by Doctor Three. All was well and I was soon to be released in the afternoon. I mustn't neglect the meals, which were good by hospital standards.
The entire cost (and I've left out the gory details) was $255 US. That includes the ambulance, three doctors, medicines administered, treatments, IVs, private room, two meals, etc., etc., etc., plus countless nurses and attendants who kept a close eye on me. I'm certain they didn't want to be the first to allow a sick gringo to escape on their watch!
Upon returning to the States, my doctor of 15 years verified that everything had been top-notch; the diagnosis and the treatments were as he would have prescribed. He even liked the paperwork (test results, etc) although in Spanish.
Contrast all that at CMA for $255 to West Palm Beach where an ambulance ride alone cost over $450. (I had an unfortunate couple of years, but I'm feeling much better, thank you, dear readers!) ;-)
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CARLOS DANIEL GALLEGOS 16 years ago
Allow me to share my Medical experience in Merida. When I went to Merida in 2003, I already had medical problems with diabetes. I had ALL my toes amputated a few years early. Because of wearing improper shoes while in Merida, I developed ulcers on my feet. I was going to a Doctor at CMA, on Avenida Colon, near the WalMart. I spent about $1,000.00 usd with this Doctor. For what I felt was sub standard care. After I married my wife, Ariadna in October 2004, I began to get Free Medical Care and Medicines with IMSS. Sad to say, the Ulcers on my feet became so bad, that the Doctor at IMSS wanted to amputate my leg, below the knee. I returned to Texas in 2005, where a Doctor here did surgery on my feet, to take out infected bone and tissue, where by saving the rest of my feet and legs. In 2009, I still have my feet and legs. Medicare paid for the Surgery. In 2004, also in Merida, I had a problem in my left eye. The Doctor at CMA wanted to do surgery. The Doctor at IMSS just gave me drops. Sad to say, I went blind in my left eye. The Eye Doctor in Texas, after giving me a CAT SCAN, found out I had suffered a minor STROKE, causing me to go blind. Now I am on DIALYSIS. There is a Hospital in Merida, Clinica De Merida, that can do it. But, at what cost? Medicare pays for my treatments in Texas. Ariadna says there is a Dialisis Clinic at IMSS. I've yet to find any info on the computer to know if that is for certain. That is my Medical Experience in Merida.
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nancy 16 years ago
what about hair transplant or implants(for my son!)?
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Deborah Diana 16 years ago
Hola! My husband and I visited Merida in March for 2 weeks and are excited to move there. What a wonderful, hospitable place! In the meantime, I am looking for a Bariatric surgeon in Merida and having trouble finding one. Is there anyone out there with information? I could sure use the help.
Thanks for any help I can get.
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Kelly Richards 16 years ago
We're supposed to leave for Merida on May 1 and I'm concerned about the swine flu outbreak. Can someone let me know if Merida has been affected? Are restaurants closed?
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Helga Dodson 16 years ago
Dear working gringos.
Would love to come to Merida for a facelift, could you recommend any Plastic Surgeons? Also need Hearing Aids.
Thanks for your assistance
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Brenda Thornton 16 years ago
All the information added of late to this is quite comforting for those of us thinking of settling in Merida who are not as spry as we once were. Star Medica sound like it is a very good facility.
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