MainelyStina
Chronic Overpacker
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances from SJPP Starting Aug 21, 2023
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Greetings from Tardajos!
About 3 days ago I developed symptoms of an internal infection. We had just left Grañon. A couple hours later, a friend and fellow pilgrim, offered the appropriate antibiotics for my condition (girls stick together!) I walked over 70km while trying to fight off the infection. I arrived in Burgos yesterday, a Sunday, only to find pretty much everything closed.
This morning, I arrived at the Centro de Salud at opening. They sent me away, and I was told to go to the private hospital. After a somewhat frustrating check-in process thanks to the jackhammers pounding away outside the open door, and my mediocre Spanish skills, I was sent to the waiting room. I waited probably less than ten minutes until the Dr came out. I went back to the room, he did a quick test, and I had a prescription for stronger antibiotics within 5 minutes. I walked from the hospital to the pharmacy - arriving just moments before they opened. I presented my prescription and within about 90 seconds had it in hand.
I’m just astounded at how unlike the American system this is. I was truly scared of how things might have gone - and instead it was fairly easy and mostly painless. Makes me wish our system back was even remotely as streamlined as this!
Twenty-five years ago while traveling, I had to have emergency surgery in a small island hospital deep in the South Pacific Ocean. I think that experience left me somewhat fearful about what I might encounter today? Past experiences have a way of sneaking up on you when you don’t expect them.
So, I just wanted to post this to encourage other pilgrims to not be afraid, or reluctant, or hesitant to seek the care they need to continue their pilgrimage. I’m, hopefully, on the road to recovery, and will be ship-shape within a few days!
Good health everyone - and Buen Camino!
Stina
PS: I did pay in advance, and I’ll try to bill that back to my travel insurance. But if that doesn’t work, the visit cost half of what I would’ve been charged just as a copay to visit an emergency room at home…
Free to the pilgrim, but the Spanish people are paying for it.Somehow it's free of charge for pilgrims.
Definitely a different process for those of us who don't live in countries with reciprocal health care systems.And later I attended the Centro do Salud in Triacestela, they processed my EHIC with the help from the clinic in Sarria via phone. The local receptionist and the very young professional in the Centro never processed a foreign EHIC before. All went well.
Like any other european country that is member to the EHIC-Program. Some of the costs are socialized.Free to the pilgrim, but the Spanish people are paying for it.
As I was self-employed in my early years I was insured via a commercial health plan and had to cover all medical bills and was reimbursed later by my insurance company. Had some advantages but was way to expensive on the long run!Definitely a different process for those of us who don't live in countries with reciprocal health care systems.
Health care costs for those from North America can be scary for us Europeans. In the UK travel medical insurance is usually sold according to very broad travel blocks: "Europe", "Worldwide except US, Canada and the Caribbean", and most expensively including US and Canada. Even with a couple of declared pre-existing medical conditions my annual travel policy for Europe costs less than £40. And the couple of occasions when I have needed to consult a doctor - in France and Norway - have resulted in bills too small to even come close to the medical policy excess.Definitely a different process for those of us who don't live in countries with reciprocal health care systems.
I am also very happy to hear you had a positive experience. I had occasion to go to that same private hospital in 2021, and was treated promptly and effectively with great kindness and care. Perhaps you too had Dr. Rojas as the attending physician? We had a good laugh, as we share the same last name (no relation). I did have to pay a nominal out-of-pocket expense, but I was glad to do so. And yes, quite different from the US! My ER nurse daughter will be the first to second your sentiments. Buen camino, and may you walk the rest of your pilgrimage in good health!Greetings from Tardajos!
About 3 days ago I developed symptoms of an internal infection. We had just left Grañon. A couple hours later, a friend and fellow pilgrim, offered the appropriate antibiotics for my condition (girls stick together!) I walked over 70km while trying to fight off the infection. I arrived in Burgos yesterday, a Sunday, only to find pretty much everything closed.
This morning, I arrived at the Centro de Salud at opening. They sent me away, and I was told to go to the private hospital. After a somewhat frustrating check-in process thanks to the jackhammers pounding away outside the open door, and my mediocre Spanish skills, I was sent to the waiting room. I waited probably less than ten minutes until the Dr came out. I went back to the room, he did a quick test, and I had a prescription for stronger antibiotics within 5 minutes. I walked from the hospital to the pharmacy - arriving just moments before they opened. I presented my prescription and within about 90 seconds had it in hand.
I’m just astounded at how unlike the American system this is. I was truly scared of how things might have gone - and instead it was fairly easy and mostly painless. Makes me wish our system back was even remotely as streamlined as this!
Twenty-five years ago while traveling, I had to have emergency surgery in a small island hospital deep in the South Pacific Ocean. I think that experience left me somewhat fearful about what I might encounter today? Past experiences have a way of sneaking up on you when you don’t expect them.
So, I just wanted to post this to encourage other pilgrims to not be afraid, or reluctant, or hesitant to seek the care they need to continue their pilgrimage. I’m, hopefully, on the road to recovery, and will be ship-shape within a few days!
Good health everyone - and Buen Camino!
Stina
PS: I did pay in advance, and I’ll try to bill that back to my travel insurance. But if that doesn’t work, the visit cost half of what I would’ve been charged just as a copay to visit an emergency room at home…
I had food poisoning 2014 in Amsterdam. Paid nothing then. Bills received later in USA were €718 for ambulance (less than half of a typical USA trip), and €250 for emergency room (USA $1500+ at the non-profit hospital I retired from).Some of us living in European countries bitch about high taxes in general and how monthly health care costs are on the rise but I can say from experience that the system works when needed. At least in The Netherlands.
I had wonderful treatment at the centros de salud and hospitals on the Camino. Excellent care and in some centros free.Greetings from Tardajos!
About 3 days ago I developed symptoms of an internal infection. We had just left Grañon. A couple hours later, a friend and fellow pilgrim, offered the appropriate antibiotics for my condition (girls stick together!) I walked over 70km while trying to fight off the infection. I arrived in Burgos yesterday, a Sunday, only to find pretty much everything closed.
This morning, I arrived at the Centro de Salud at opening. They sent me away, and I was told to go to the private hospital. After a somewhat frustrating check-in process thanks to the jackhammers pounding away outside the open door, and my mediocre Spanish skills, I was sent to the waiting room. I waited probably less than ten minutes until the Dr came out. I went back to the room, he did a quick test, and I had a prescription for stronger antibiotics within 5 minutes. I walked from the hospital to the pharmacy - arriving just moments before they opened. I presented my prescription and within about 90 seconds had it in hand.
I’m just astounded at how unlike the American system this is. I was truly scared of how things might have gone - and instead it was fairly easy and mostly painless. Makes me wish our system back was even remotely as streamlined as this!
Twenty-five years ago while traveling, I had to have emergency surgery in a small island hospital deep in the South Pacific Ocean. I think that experience left me somewhat fearful about what I might encounter today? Past experiences have a way of sneaking up on you when you don’t expect them.
So, I just wanted to post this to encourage other pilgrims to not be afraid, or reluctant, or hesitant to seek the care they need to continue their pilgrimage. I’m, hopefully, on the road to recovery, and will be ship-shape within a few days!
Good health everyone - and Buen Camino!
Stina
PS: I did pay in advance, and I’ll try to bill that back to my travel insurance. But if that doesn’t work, the visit cost half of what I would’ve been charged just as a copay to visit an emergency room at home…
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