Medical emergency and EPS

kalder says on Nov 26, 2007, 10:37:

Well, whoever he is, wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.

Very interesting post btw.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

Lowell says on Nov 26, 2007, 10:42:

good news for both the friend and eps. I need insurance and I sure do need to make plans for my eventual demise. thanks for the reminder.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

elk says on Nov 26, 2007, 10:49:

Death and burial.

I asked this question at the local police department: What happens when a foreigner dies in Colombia. I was told they first contact the U.S. Embassy and wait for your family to contact them with instructions. I suggested this could take a very long time..and your body might be overly RIPE before the U.S. Embassy concluded their part. They informed me it can take up to two months. You can however draft a notarized document which will eliminate this problem. Just leave it with a friend in case of death.

elk says on Nov 26, 2007, 11:04:

Gringoinbogota:

I hope your joking. "If this is your idea of a positive story I really don't want to know anymore"

GIB: He received immediate medical care at the Envigado hospital and was then transported to the Las Vegas clinic where they have a specialty unit. YES, THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE STORY...BUT AGAIN JUST MY OPINION.

If this happened in a small town in the U.S. he would still be waiting for his VISA card to be approved or would be in the process of applying for a bank loan.....to cover the costs.

His cost here is only 1,000 COP (about .50 cents U.S.) You be the judge which is better.

miamimike says on Nov 26, 2007, 11:25:

GIB--what this Doctor did is not unheard of at all here in the USA(hospitals) Many times in Rural Hospitals they don't have a skilled cardiac Surgeon or NeuroSurgeon on call 24/7. In these cases, they either transfer by Ambulance or Helicopter them out to a Major Medical Center for complicated type surgeries. BTW, they do this all the time in the US Military-battle field wounded Soldiers are stabilized,sent to a Mash Unit, evaluated and then flown over to Germany(in the present case of the Iraq War)if needed for Complicated surgery unable to be performed at a Mash Unit. Happens more then you think!

On Payment before treatment here in the USA -they had a story about several large city hospitals last week on a program like GMA and it was shown at many Large Hospitals, the Doc would not even treat or respond to a Call because they felt the Patient in need could not pay. I don't think this happens often in Colombia.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." GW Bush

webmanco says on Nov 26, 2007, 11:32:

Elk Thanks for sharig and MiamiMike for crearing up any confusion. I was in Medellín along with a relative who needed care and I don´t complain about how she was treated.

Hopefully your friend didn´t get the heartattack from taking punches at PBH.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

slguy says on Nov 26, 2007, 11:58:

"US hospitals can not refuse treatment for lack of money or insurance."

GIB, I beg to differ. This statement is simply not true. It happens all the time here. Maybe not as overtly as in other countries, but it happens.

This is not to say that a hospital would, as a matter of course, simply refuse treatment to a heart attack victim - but the private hospitals in Miami are notorious for transferring patients to Jackson (the huge publicly funded hospital) any uninsured patients who have serious health isuues. Other big cities have the same thing, I'm sure.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

scotty says on Nov 26, 2007, 12:07:

well who is the PBH member that had the heart attack?

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

msaucey says on Nov 26, 2007, 12:12:

I will agree with GIB on the U.S. healthcare admittance policy.... U.S. hospitals cannot deny treatment for any reason in an emergency, heck the doctors don't even know if they will be paid or not, that's not their concern, there's a whole front office to worry about that later.... If he was having a heart-attack, in the U.S., chances are that he wouldn't need to go anywhere in a large metropolitan city....

But, again, not all hospitals are great in the U.S. and sometimes poor service is rendered.... Some lady died in the emergency room at MLK Hospital in Los Angeles because of some bad service and she bled to death.... Incidents like this happen... This was one of the other reason why MLK's license is being pulled.....

Nonetheless, ELK I'm glad that your friend is recovering and sounds like he'll be okay...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

miamimike says on Nov 26, 2007, 12:40:

Here is the Key Word---Stabilize! Working in a Health Care profession, I have seen it often. When a 9/11 call is received and the Paramedics sent out, they have to take the person to the Nearest Hospital to "Stabilize" the Patient. The ER Doc there then makes the judgement call and if the Patient is Indigent(no resources,insurance money) then they Ship the Patient down to Jackson, our Public Trust Hospital in Miami. If He is a Veteran, he is sent to the Miami VA Med Center, just 30 seconds around the corner from Jackson. If a Veteran gets sick in west Palm Beach and needs a Complicated Cardiac Surgery, he is shipped down to Miami because they have Cardiac Surgeons there, provided he first is stabilized. All this going on while West Palm Beach has their Own VA Med Center but the problem is, they have No Skilled Cardiac Surgeons on Staff. Remember, the Key word is, Stabilize the patient and then get him to a Major Med Ctr where the have skilled Surgeons, either on Duty or on call. Its a Judgement call for the ER Doc who diagnoses the Patient. I wouldn't think it unusual here in Miami, if a Patient is Stable, to have him/her sent to another Hospital in the Area if, in the Opinion of the ER Doc, the Surgery could better be performed at another Hospital whose Surgeons are more highly skilled.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." GW Bush

webmanco says on Nov 26, 2007, 13:41:

Si en Colombia llueve en el exterior no deja de llover

Noviembre 25 de 2007

Drama de colombiano en E.U. revela los 'huecos' del sistema de salud en ese paĂ­s

http://www.eltiempo.com/internacional/euycanada/noticias/ARTICULO-WEB-...


If credit is given to a Colombian medical institution, it should be taken like it is a credit. I had posted elsewhere about "El Paseo de la Muerte" so I am not hiding the bad about Colombia, but it pisses me off when something good about Colombia is written and all of a sudden Mr. Joe disagrees.

Well Life goes on.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

jaramillo says on Nov 26, 2007, 16:24:

Well, we all have different experiences, and since mine are different from GIB’s I’d like to put my $0.02. I think I have a pretty decent idea of what health care offers in the U.S. My health options reflect my academic posts, i.e. (in Chronological sequence), Columbia University (NY), U.C. San Francisco, U.Texas Southwestern (Parkland Hospital, Dallas), Emory University School of medicine (Atlanta). The first three are top research medical schools, and Emory ain’t bad. Last Christmas I had a heart scare in Medellin. My sister took me to the Clinica Cardiovascular. The wait at the emergency room (about 10 pm) was about 5 min. They walked me to the back, and within 30 secs (no exaggeration) a highly competent (and very sexy) nurse had me wired and with EKG in hand she left. Within a few minutes the attending physician came to see me, and performed a routine auscultation. He said the EKG seemed OK, but a Cardiologist was on his way down. The cardiologist (with a full residency in cardiology and an extra residency in hemodynamics) saw me (second auscultation) and said everything looked OK, but that he wanted to make sure so he ordered enzyme tests (pretty standard). I was discharged within about an hour and a half and charged u.s$ 99. Best medical care I received in years. Nurses here do not loo like that, which I guess is good for your blood pressure.

slguy says on Nov 26, 2007, 16:35:

Great story, jaramillo. Delighted to hear your take on it.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 26, 2007, 20:11:

I've been there and done that in both US and Colombian medical institutions. Personally, I'll take the level of care at a good Colombian hospital for anything short of brain surgery or an organ transplant. The level of actual compassion and attention was much better in Colombia. My only caveat is that all of my experiences have been at the "best" hospitals in the country, actually, in both countries. So I can't really speak to the experience of folks in the clutches of the public safety net of either place.

scooby_1781 says on Nov 26, 2007, 20:25:

I was an EMT for 10yrs and miamimike is absolutly correct, first thing done is to assess the patient do the ABC,s, then if possible stabalize the patient, for transport.

Gringo is also correct by law a hospital can not refuse treatment because of inability to pay.

"SEMPER FI"

arthur brode says on Nov 26, 2007, 20:33:

i pay 17,000 pesos per month for EMI (emergency insurance) When you call the HOT line a hot nurse and a Doctor will come to your door.its only for emergencies.but i have already used the service three times:)
With the EMI plan a non-emergency Doctors visit is only 3,000 pesos.and if you want the Doctor to come to your house the non-emergency visit is 10,000 pesos.

http://www.calirentals.net/

miamimike says on Nov 26, 2007, 20:35:

Here is the Key Word---Stabilize! Working in a Health Care profession, I have seen it often. When a 9/11 call is received and the Paramedics sent out, they have to take the person to the Nearest Hospital to "Stabilize" the Patient.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." GW Bush

Man Tequila says on Nov 26, 2007, 22:16:

I treat a lot of heart attacks, GIB. I don't see anything wrong with the story.

A heart attack means the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen, usually because of blockages in the arteries that supply the heart with oxygenated blood.

Any ER can and does treat heart attacks, lots of them. They diagnose it by the story and the ECG and confirm this with enzyme blood tests. Virtually all heart attack patients get aspirin, oxygen, clopidogrel and some form of heparin. Many also get nitroglycerine, a beta-blocker and morphine. They usually get the aspirin in the ambulance, and it does indeed reduce the death rate.

Small and medium size hospitals rarely contain an angioplasty suite -- cities usually only have a few hospitals with them due to the high costs and number of specialists. It is thought that getting angioplasty and stents as soon as possible to open up the coronary arteries results in the best outcome. Arteries can also be opened up using a drug called a thrombolytic (such as TNK), which is what would be used at a smaller hospital, and many bigger places too. Our small hospital is typical because we use the thorombolytic, which works most of the time. Sometimes it does not work, or works but the chest pain returns within a couple hours, in which case we send the patient to a hospital with a CCU and the ability to do "rescue angioplasty".

What likely happened is PBH guy got thrombolytic and the above treatments. He may have failed drug thrombolytic and needed rescue stenting -- but most heart attack patients will need angioplasty and possible stenting anyway. This is not uncommon and in no way speaks badly of the medical care at Envigado.

pues se me antoja que sus cantares son de una tierra desconocida, y yo le dije si a usted le inspira, saber la tierra de donde soy... con mucho gusto y a mucho honor...

goin_south says on Nov 26, 2007, 22:35:

oh, welll!!!
Why don't you all jus learn how, and take care of your own health... (I think I've been to a medical doctor about 5 times in the last 25 years), accept the facts of immortality and then this won't be such big issues in your lives.
Too easy.

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

arthur brode says on Nov 26, 2007, 22:50:

well,its time for me to hit the sack.i have an dental cleaning appointment tomorrow morning at 9.
thank God for my EPS i only have to pay like a 90 cent co-payment

http://www.calirentals.net/

goin_south says on Nov 26, 2007, 22:52:

whos doing the cleaning??? jajj

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

goin_south says on Nov 26, 2007, 22:53:

How often do you go?
3X's weekly for teeth cleaning is a lil extreme, Art.

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

arthur brode says on Nov 26, 2007, 22:56:

jaja
no gs,Rosita and Paola dont accept EPS:(

http://www.calirentals.net/

elk says on Nov 27, 2007, 05:03:

Man Tequila:

Your exactly right. He was giving a serious of tests over a period of about two hours, stabilized and then transferred by ambulance to a specialty hospital, Clinica Las Vegas in Poblado. I have visited him everyday at the clinic. I'm first invited to a cleaning room, required to wash my hands, followed by an application of an alcohol solution, followed by protective clothing. No bags or personal items are allowed into the intensive care unit. He had his own glass enclosed room with monitoring equipment. An on duty cardiologist and other nurses were within a few feet. They suspected he might have another heart attack and were prepared for this event.

He spent four days in intensive care and was moved to a simi-private room yesterday. He is still connected to a monitoring device, but his condition has improved and he is now allowed to shower.

I've been extremely pleased with the medical service here in Medellin. Personally, I've used the medical services here in Medellin several times in the past year.

We have good doctors and medical services in the U.S. , but for most without insurance they are not affordable.

My friend, Ken, will be home soon and will share his experience.

WARNING: It might be a POSITIVE REPORT AND COULD OFFEND SOME ON THIS BOARD!


Man Tequila said:
What likely happened is PBH guy got thrombolytic and the above treatments. He may have failed drug thrombolytic and needed rescue stenting -- but most heart attack patients will need angioplasty and possible stenting anyway. This is not uncommon and in no way speaks badly of the medical care at Envigado.

lampltr says on Nov 27, 2007, 05:10:

Hey guys, will add my 2 cents worth here...How much does a family pay for medical insurance in the U.S. if they are a business owner? If one works with the US Gov't., for example you select the health cvg. you desire, but then too your are strongly encouraged to obtain services with that provider or risk non payment. There was a documentary done on the U.S. Medical system in 2006 that was not positive at all. Also how much for a visit by a doctor & nurse to make a house call in the U.S. vs. there?

A fellow co-worker's son had a major birth defect (He is now 17 yrs old), and every year has to go through at least 3 to 4 re-constructive surgeries every year. The crap the family has to go through with all the loops is totally ludricris, say nothing about the out of pocket costs over and above before the deductables kick in. They even have to write their own letters to the insurance company to get justification for the surgery, and at times this even gets turned down and they have to begin at square one again, even getting a health care professional involved!

My young wife had a bypass in Cartago in 2006, the cost was $2700, and the Doc even set us up on a repayment plan, first class care great communication. What would this have cost in the states? No system is perfect, but I see 1st class health care south of the boarder for less that 1/2 the cost, no questions asked.
At the end of last year, she also required Cataract surgery, all total including follow-up care and protective sun glasses was I believe around $1800 to $2k.

Last weekend my brother in-law (32 yrs/family disorder), had a heart attack. They live very rural, but then too happily he was with his family at the time. EMT crew arrived and stabilized the situation, then he was immediately transported to Cartago where he too received excellant care. Initial costs $0, Doc stated we would work out the billing later. If interested let me know and I can get the total costs.

Believe future for Colombia regarding medical care could quite possibly be pretty rosy for foreigners, my opinion anyways. Don't me to add fuel to the fire, but I too also have been through the Colombian medical system (Non-insurance/have been researching coverages), and I am extremely impressed!! Also appreciate much for all past and present posts regarding this subject as it is very difficult to find anything on the internet without much research.

Rob77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 05:22:

Since insurance has been mentioned, I would like to get recommendations for the best heath insurance here. I have to admit being a bit ignorant on the subject, having procrastinated.

I have seen mention of basic EPS, Prepaid Medical, and Emergency Medical Coverage. I am wondering which combination would provide the very best protection for any and every type of medical need, with access to the best doctors and hospitals, with money being no object.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Rob77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 05:47:

Just basic EPS or together with Prepaid Medicine?

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Rob77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 05:51:

I asked some friends in Bogotá and Medellin for recommendations. In Bogota, Colsanitas was mentioned. In Medellin, they said Colsanitas was very bureaucratic. They recommended Suramericana.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Gator says on Nov 27, 2007, 06:34:

You could not TOUCH what you get in Colombia for $131 in the USA.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Rob77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 06:40:

Do you know which of the better clinics are affiliated with Colseguros? I would like to find a plan that offers good services in both Bogotá and Medellin. Any in Medellin use Colseguros?

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Waterdawg says on Nov 27, 2007, 06:58:

hey Elk , how about this one !

Hospital Makes 3rd Brain Surgery Mistake
AP
Posted: 2007-11-27 09:08:28
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island Hospital has been fined $50,000 and reprimanded by the state Department of Health after its third instance this year of a doctor performing brain surgery in the wrong side of a patient's head.

"We are extremely concerned about this continuing pattern," health department director David R. Gifford said in a statement Monday.

The hospital issued a statement saying it was re-evaluating its training and policies, providing more oversight, giving nursing staff the power to ensure procedures are followed, among other steps.

The most recent case happened Friday when the chief resident started operating on the wrong side of an 82-year-old patient's brain, the health department said. The patient was OK, the health department and hospital said.

In February, a different doctor performed neurosurgery on the wrong side of another patient's head, said Andrea Bagnall-Degos, a health department spokeswoman. That patient was also OK, she said.

In August, however, a patient died a few weeks after a third doctor operated on the wrong side of his brain. The death prompted the state to order the hospital to take a series of steps to ensure such a mistake would not happen again, including an independent review of its neurosurgery practices and better verification from doctors of surgery plans.

The hospital is owned by Lifespan, a not-for-profit corporation. It serves as a teaching hospital for Brown University.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
11/27/07 09:06 EST

Rob77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 07:16:

Water, you can search and post all the mistakes you want. But you would be wasting your time comparing medical care for poor in both countries. I have visited people in the poor hospitals in US, Mexico and Colombia and they are worlds apart. Last year I visited a public hospital in Mexico and I could not believe it was so filthy, everywhere, even the operating areas. It was like it never occurred to them that keeping the place clean would help keep patients alive and recover!

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

elk says on Nov 27, 2007, 07:52:

GIB wrote:

"OK so he was diagnosed with a heartache from a doctor at a hospital and a couple hours later they put him in an ambulance and transported him over to another hospital? "

GIB, I owe you a big apology...please excuse me! My friend didn't have a "heartache" as you state, but rather a "Heart Attack". It's that big "pump located in the chest area"

He has a wonderful novia who visits daily, so no apparent problem with a "heartache" at this point and time. I will recommend your expert services should he suddenly develop a "heartache"

I started reading some of your 5,486 posts on PBH, but soon became bored. You appear to have a way of starting an argument with a great number of people.

Gib, It's true ELK is very POSITIVE-POSITIVE-POSITIVE AND HAPPY WITH THE COLOMBIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

I agree that we have many fine doctors in the U.S. health care systems, but I can't afford medical care in the U.S. ...thank you.

Have a nice day!

Waterdawg says on Nov 27, 2007, 08:28:

Rob, not going to get into a pissing contest with you or GIB .. Your welcome to your opinion ! Guess what , so am I .. Spent 25 years in the Military , serving all over the world .. I have seen filth in hospitals that is dam near impossible to describe , not mention blood and guts. .. Yet when having to search out medical attention in both Ecuador and Colombia , I was pleasantly surprised .. Now is that so hard for one to except ?

Medicine in the States ain't all that and a bag of chips any more . One Mans opinion !

Rob77 says on Nov 27, 2007, 08:34:

Water, at what point did you consider the discussion a pissing contest? . . . when someone expressed a different opinion than yours?

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Waterdawg says on Nov 27, 2007, 08:41:

Good Lord , it is just a figure of speech ! .. Enough said .. Have a great Day !

morphus says on Nov 27, 2007, 08:53:

Ok, we don't have to commend Colombia for every little thing. Its like saying "Colombia is a great place because they did'nt leave me in the street to die". REALLY, they actually treated you in a hospital? This is'nt the Dark Ages you know.

elk says on Nov 27, 2007, 09:47:

Can't we just all get along?

miamimike says on Nov 27, 2007, 12:14:

I have the best insurance here available at the best hospitals but that is not good enough for me. I will be at Duke Medical Center or the VA Hospital across the street depending on the injury which is all one in the same. I was at that VA hospital for a complication with a service connected injury and all my doctors were from Duke. I went to Duke for tests and walked out not paying a dime.....I think I paid for parking..... ;)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GIB--a little correction on your Comment. And I know this from actual experience. I did one of my Clinical Rotations at the Durham VA Med Ctr and Duke and the Durham VA is not the same. One is Private(duke), the other is Federal(durham VA). Not the same,,,A Big underground Tunnel connects the two Hospitals so workers and Students can walk back and forth between the two. This way they don't have to cross busy route 501 which runs between the two Hospitals. The Duke Medical Students Rotate to the VA for their Clinical Schedules and because of this Monitoring and Association with a Large well known(and a very good Med school in my opinion) Teaching Hospital(duke), the Quality of care at the Durham VA is excellent. The Vets get all of the latest on equipment, Meds, Surgical Procedures, ect. All the Vets using a VA Med Ctr should be so lucky to have a top Ranked Medical School like Duke across the street. Likewise I have also used this same VA as you did for treatment as a Veteran while I attended school in the area. Many years ago,,,used to go to the nearby Park and inhale the aroma(not nicotine) from the freshly ground Tobacco Leafs at the nearby Pall Mall Cigerette Factory.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." GW Bush

aztec says on Nov 28, 2007, 08:17:

"So she went to the FISCARIA which many many people have to do to get anything done here. They took another couple three months to set the insurance company straight. 3 more months of bleeding all over the place. She then waited for her surgery and got it done.

If you have money then you will get pretty good service. If you are poor forget about it." GIB


We are going through this now with my wife's nephew. After three months we yesterday were able to complete the ordered biopsy. Turns out his illness is suspected lymphoma. With an illness like this time is crucial.

Agree with you also if you have a good insurance or have money the medical service (at the top) is excellent.

BAQ says on Nov 28, 2007, 11:24:

Glad he is ok, but the medical services here as a whole still sucks. It depends on the DOCTOR AND THE CLINIC you go to. And I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE. I almost died 18 months ago due to a screwed up clinic with very little diagnostic equipment and a doctor who couldnt find his ass with both hands. AND let me add this was a COOMEVA clinic and a COOMEVA surgeon.

AFTER my wife got a private doctor, cost 2 million pesos. and I was transfered via ambulance to a decent clinic, cost 3 million pesos for a second surgery, everything turned out ok. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR AN HONEST NURSE WHO TOLD MY WIFE TO GET ME TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL ASAP, I would be 6 ft under right now.

ALL BS aside, and I am very very very serious, if you have a MAJOR MEDICAL PROBLEM, get your ducks in a row rapidly and make sure you are being taken to one of the GOOD clinincs and not dropped off at the CLOSEST ONE out of convenience by the ambulance driver. AND IF YOU HAVE EVEN 1% OF DOUBT IN YOUR MIND, SPEND THE MONEY TO GET A SECOND OPINION FROM A PRIVATE DOCTOR IE SPECIALIST.

AGAIN, GLAD YOUR FRIEND IS OK.

Semper Fidelis !

aztec says on Nov 28, 2007, 13:49:

Try these two!

http://www.fsfb.org.co/

http://www.cardioinfantil.org/html/i_portals/index.php

Robert Jorge says on Nov 28, 2007, 22:50:

The Mrs. had emergency surgery here in the US last June. She had the nerve to get appendicitis. One thing I remember while sitting in the ER was seeing all the signs saying how you can't be refused care, no matter what your financial circumstances were. I was very clear from the get go that she had no insurance. She was still treated promptly and the nurses, techs, and doctors could have cared less about the insurance issue. After all bills were received in the weeks after, and the hospital stay fee being forgiven as charity, the bills still added up to about $4,000. Anyway, I was extremely happy with the care she received. But the medical cost for such a relatively simple procedure was breathtaking. And we / I got off easy compared to a lot of people in the US.

What would a typical appendectomy in Colombia cost if paid out of pocket? What kind of procedure, ie: incisions are used? Mrs. RJ had 3 tiny holes cut in her. One for a camera, one for an instrument, and the other for another instrument where the organ was removed. The latter was cut at the belly button, and like the other holes is virtually invisible now. They didn't even use a stitch for the first two. The cut where they pulled out the organ at the belly button had dissolving stitches that were below the outer skin. I was amazed at what they can do now. My dad's scar is about a 20 inch long L shape across his abdomen.

Rob77 says on Nov 29, 2007, 04:26:

It does not make sense to compare costs for care in both countries. There is a much higher cost of living being supported by higher wages in the US.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

aztec says on Nov 29, 2007, 04:50:

"Care for the wealthy here is so far and away didferent than that for the poor."GIB

The chasm is shocking and until one falls into it there is no concept how bad it can become. If you are without resources in Colombia medical complications will be devastating.

webmanco says on Nov 29, 2007, 05:45:

GIB
Yes no system is perfect but in the states you have a thousand lawyers behind you to keep the doctors in line

Lawyers don´t do any good on health care

GIB
Once again I am alone on posting the truth about Colombia

Not kidding



In Colombia poors do get medical attention. Good or bad is another history. If poors claim they don´t have enough money to pay for their own health care, they can sign up so a Government entity will visit them and interview them making sure in reality they don´t have the means to pay health care. The Sisben is a division of the Government in charge of verifying if people qualifiy for Goverment healt care and other benefits.

For people living on the streets, there is suppose to be another entity in the Alcaldía de Bogotá where they will "take care". Red de Solidaridad. I don´t know about that, I saw an indingent woman about six months pregnant. Who knows?

http://www.sdp.gov.co/www/resources/yap_presentacion_sisben_33_33.pdf

______________________
"Tengo el tema de salud cubierto por el Sisbén, pero pensando en el futuro sí me gustaría tener alguna opción que me permita contar con dinero cuando inicie el período de vejez, porque por ahora no estoy ahorrando para ese fin", cuenta Alejandro.

http://www.eltiempo.com/tiempoimpreso/edicionimpresa/economicas/2007-1...

Casos como el suyo y como el de Alejandro abundan. La mayoría de los trabajadores independientes que ganan entre uno y dos salarios mínimos no contemplan dentro de sus planes la idea de pensionarse, pues están en edades muy tempranas y cuentan con coberturas en salud, como la del Sisbén.
_______________________

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 29, 2007, 11:07:

Speaking of medical nightmares. The Wall Street Journal today has a story about a guy in California who was misdiagnosed by about 4 different doctors (in US hospitals) over the course of 6 months for a staph infection. By the time he actually was properly diagnosed he was half dead with staph having gone septic throughout his entire body. Nobody gave him much of a chance but he pulled through, only to then be facing a $1.5 million dollar hospital bill because his lifetime insurance cap was maxed out at with the total $3 millino this little incident cost.

Now, in Colombia I'm sure this kind of thing happens too, in terms of the misdiagnosing, but I just raise the point because I think some people would like to imagine that all US doctors and hospitals provide a certain high level of care and that "3rd World" medicine is sub-rate. That hasn't been my experience.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2007/11/29/even-with-insurance-hospital-st...

Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 29, 2007, 11:38:

I've always been crystal clear that my first-hand experiences with health care in both countries have been at the high-end of the system.

The truth is that medical care for the poor in both countries is deficient in different ways. In the US the problem seems to be that if you're uninsured, the cash cost of receiving medical care is out of reach for almost anyone. It's a disfunctional system where the people least able to pay -- the uninsured -- are billed at rates dramatically higher than what the insurance companies pay, thus ensuring that a huge majority default on payment. This is why you can sit in an emergency room on any given day and watch dozens of cases that should have been treated or prevented with non-emergency care get dealt with in the most expensive way possible. And it totally screws up the real emergency treatments.

In Colombia I think it's a function of there being so much economic desperation. People who can barely afford to eat or buy clothes certainly can't afford to pay for medical care, either. And there doesn't seem to be a good safety net.

jaramillo says on Nov 29, 2007, 17:34:

I don't know if you guys saw the fine they imposed on the Brown U. hospital in Rhode island (an Ivy League School) for operating, for the fourth time, on the wrong side of a patient's brain. Maaaan!

miamimike says on Nov 29, 2007, 18:43:

GIB--You cannot get Medicare(federal) unless you are 65 and then only if you have payed suffieciently into the system (in my case, a min of 40 qtrs or 10 years). If you become disabled permenetly, this also qualifies you at a younger age). On Medicaid(state), you have to be practically broke to get into this system. And when you do, you will find many good Docs don't participate as in the last 6 years, Bush admin has cut re-imbursements to the Docs so many simply won't accept Medicaid patients. This should all change again if a Democrat is elected in 2008--more realistic reimbursement rates again.

If you pay Cash here in the USA you get screwed---in many cases you will pay 2-4 times More for the same medical procedure then someone who has insurance. We have a Lousy Mismash of a Healthcare system(if you can call it that) here in the USA. Why should someone get burned because they have to pay Cash? Many here 40 yrs of age or older with a Pre-existing Condition(diabetes, hypertension ect) CANNOT even buy a single payer Health Insurance policy if they had the Cash and wanted to. Companies like Blue Cross, Atena will NOT insure a patient this age with a pre-existing illness. You are up Kaka Creek without a Paddle! The more a person like myself works in the USA System, the more convoluted and lacking you find it every passing day UNLESS you are a Donald Trump Type-then all doors are open to the finest and fastest of Health Care. Otherwise take your crying Towel and grab a Number in the waiting line. Here in the USA, The large Insurance Companies and their bean counters control your care and dictate what treatment you get, for how long, how much and where. That CEO McGuire of United Health Insurance Group was reported earlier this year to have received a Base Yearly Salary of $4-$5 Million plus Stock options of $1.5 Billion---Think a salary like this doesn't affect the Cost and Quality of Healthcare in the USA? What could he possibly do to merit this level of Salary? He doesn't Diagnose, Prescribe or add to the outcome of a Patient's well being,,,

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." GW Bush

webmanco says on Nov 30, 2007, 17:45:

Noviembre 29 de 2007

Ladrones informáticos le robaron 892 millones de pesos a hospital público

Ese centro médico es reconocido por atender a la población más pobre del centro de Bogotá. Tanto, que entre sus pacientes suele haber un buen número de trabajadoras sexuales y habitantes de la calle.

http://www.eltiempo.com/bogota/2007-11-30/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3...

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

webmanco says on Dec 6, 2007, 14:47:

Foto Jaiver Nieto / EL TIEMPO

http://www.eltiempo.com/bogota/2007-12-06/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3...

Diciembre 6 de 2007

Seis motoambulancias atenderán gratis emergencias en las calles de Bogotá


El conductor será un enfermero auxiliar y el parrillero un médico especialista en atención de traumas y eventos cardiovasculares que tendrán la misión de ir a los sitios de trancones y congestiones.

Este dúo médico se encargará de casos de heridos en accidentes de tránsito o personas que padezcan un infarto u otro ataque de gravedad en la vía pública.

Prestarán servicios de atención prehospitalaria como la reanimación y estabilización del paciente, mientras llega el carro ambulancia a cubrir la emergencia y llevar el accidentado o enfermo al hospital, si se requiere

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am