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robt65

Feb 25, 2012, 7:44 PM

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Mexican Hospitals

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I am hoping that this post will draw a really good and wide spread response. not only for me but for any and all persons who are now living in Mexico. I really think this post should help a number of us make some decisions based upon a short survey. So if you all would please answer as much as you can. It doesn't really matter if you were the patient or a family member or a friend was the patient and you were the visitor, . . . . . . . . . . . . . any and all views and experiences are appreciated.

What was the name of the hospital?

In what city and state is the hospital located?

Is the hospital affiliated with IMSS or a Seguro Popular Facility, or a Private Hospital?, or was it a Military Hospital?

Was the room a private room? a semi private or a ward setup.?

Please rate the following on a scale of one to ten. Ten being the best and one the worst.

The nursing care.

The food if any is available (such as vending machines, cafeteria) or is none available at all, and you must bring your own food.

The cleanliness and comfort ability of the rooms

Extra bed (and size) provided for family member, friend or not.

Condition of room furnishings, bed, chairs, television, etc.

Parking provided or not.

Specialty fields of medicine practice at the hospital.

Is an In hospital laboratory available?

MRI, Cat Scan, ultra sound or other specialized medical testing available?

Costs of a one day stay at the hospital.

Bills payable by check?, credit card?, debit card?, or cash only. (Please state which credit cards are honored).

Please feel free to add any comments related to the above topic, or any amenities offered that I may have missed..

Thanks for taking the time and answering these questions regarding hospital care. My hope is that we can all learn hope we can all learn something more about our local hospitals.

robt65

robt65

Feb 26, 2012, 6:09 PM

Post #2 of 15 (3029 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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One hundred and forty six views and not one singlle contribution. Seems a tremendous amount of folks are interested and not one person wishes to share. unbelievable!

stevebrtx

Feb 26, 2012, 8:13 PM

Post #3 of 15 (3005 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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A book could be written to answer all your questions. I will only tell you through assisting my neighbor who was in Del Carmen in Guadalajara, you couldn't find a better hospital NOB in any of the aspects you mentioned.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

mazbook1

Feb 26, 2012, 10:44 PM

Post #4 of 15 (2982 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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robert, I can answer most of the questions 3 times, as I have been in 3 different hospitals in Mazatlán 4 times since I first started coming here in 1993 (and moved here permanently in 1998), BUT…as careful as I am about my bills for my business (and home), I admit to really not examining the bills closely, just looking at the bottom line and paying up. NOT GOOD!

I will make an effort to find out the room rates in the next couple of days (and hopefully the info about MRI, Cat scans, etc., as I have never needed anything but simple Xrays).

I rather imagine that many have the same idea about hospital bills as I do: You're getting out while still weak and recovering and all you want to do is pay the bill and GO HOME! To H**L with the details!

robt65

Feb 27, 2012, 7:46 AM

Post #5 of 15 (2925 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Mexican Hospitals

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Hi Steve,

Thanks a lot for that answer. What I am trying to do for those who may be new to your area is for you to share those experiences with others in your area who may not be familiar with the hospitals that are in your area. That is great that this hospital you mentioned is that good. Can you enlighten all of us a bit more as to the questions I asked. It would really be appreciated by many I am sure.

There is nothing quite like needing a hospital and not knowing which ones are good and which are not. It seems as though you have a lot of positive information to share. I would hope you would take the little time and share that good information with the rest of us, in case we ever have need of such a facility in the Guadalajara area.

Here was my experience when we had to take my father-in-law to a well known and respected doctor for a serious infection including the beginning of gangrene to his foot. We had to find a hospital fast as he was deteriorating fast. At 80 plus years old this was nothing to fool around with. The doctor (Ramon Corona is excellent. The hospital conditions such as you will see.

My father-in-law has a really bad foot and the toes on that foot were turning black. He is a diabetic, but his problem stems from an accident he had years ago while working at Pemex, when his foot was crushed.

Like many Mexicans, he decided that doctors were too expensive and of course he had no insurance. He is 84 years old. As a result of the accident, the nail on his big toe and the one next to it, was deforming. Instead of going to a doctor to get the nail pulled and let a new one grow in, he kept cutting it and cutting it himself, until there was almost no nail. His toe became infected and he just kept cutting away. As I said he is a diabetic, which has interacted with the situation, until now his foot, yes the whole foot, is infected. I finally convinced him that he needs to go to a specialist, or to please choose his spot in our Memorial Garden at the house. His sugar hit 226 and he had a temperature starting to get a little high. His back around his kidney area are was painful and he was peeing about 6 or 7 times a night.

We found a specialist in San Juan del Rio after first going to a couple of non descript doctors (so he would not have to spend so much money). That was after he lost about $6000 Pesos on these "$50 Pesos "Pharmacy doctors" . . . . . . I said "no more" and that he either had to go to a good recognized doctor who was a specialist or suffer the results, and pick his spot out in the garden.

We finally found this specialist who seems to be pretty good. The first day out patient cost for debridement and dressing the foot, $1000 MX. After a six hour wait for the doctor who was in surgery, the doctor came and looked at his foot and provided a good thorough wound care, then we found out there was no room at this doctors’ hospital, so we had to bring him back (the following day) yesterday. Cost for a five day stay . . . . . $30,000.00 MX (that’s just the cost of the hospital) and the place is not very well maintained. It is clean enough, but the furnishings are in terrible condition, including a mattress picked open, by previous patients, etc., but the television is (believe it or not) a top name, flat screen as good as I have at the house. There is no source for heating food for the patient and no kitchen facility (even a common kitchen) for the patients or their family to be able to use. Oh yes . . . . . by the way . . . . . there is no running water!!!! This doctor may be good but his hospital is in terrible condition. As far as I am concerned it should be closed down! The name of this hospital is Clinica de Especialidades Medicas, de San Juan del Rio.

Supposedly the water problem is being repaired, but the hard water stains tell me different. We'll see if it is repaired before he is to leave the hospital. . . . . . . . . Hard to believe.

An update on the treatment (day three) there is definite improvement the foot has now lost the black color and his sugar has dropped by a little over 100 points. He is n continuous IV drip with a double bag of IV’s running into him 24 hours a day. He gets continuous meds injected into the IV’s. He is to remain in bed, and not get out even to go to the bathroom. His foot is under an iodized lamp of some sort 24 hours a day.

Like I said . . . .the doctor is good, no doubt about that at this point, but his hospital is not and I really think for a place that is a specialized facility for treating infections, it is really a place for prime concern.

robt65

Feb 27, 2012, 8:15 AM

Post #6 of 15 (2913 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Mexican Hospitals

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Hi David,

I have been guilty of the same thing when leaving a hospital. "Let's just pay the bill or do whatever and go home" This is another good example of why I would like to see as many people contribute to this information page on hospitals as much as possible. Like my own experience a couple of days ago for my father in law, we didn’t know of any hospitals and were in immediate need of one. So we reacted, rather than having good information to go on.

I would really appreciate you input here as well. This would be especially good for the folks in the Mazatlán, Sinaloa area or anyone passing through there who may (I hope not) be involved in an accident. I am going to make a list for myself of hospitals in different areas of Mexico that I can keep in the glove compartment of the car for just such use. I hope I never have to read it, but it would be very comforting to have in case I did need it.

Thanks again for your response.

robt65

Sculptari

Feb 27, 2012, 8:49 AM

Post #7 of 15 (2891 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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This question will be impossible to answer simply because hospitals everywhere have their own 'set rate' which is like full retail/no reductions. Then the rates slide down from there, depending on the strength of negotiation. A strong, private insurance company would pay the equivalent of 'wholesale' for the exact same medical treatment. This is even the case in Canada, with 'universal health care' the governments have negotiated a reduced rate and pays about one third what an uninsured tourist off the street would pay. This is also why, in Mexico, if you have private insurance you pay the deductible to the hospital and your insurance agent takes it from there.

It is very confusing everywhere, which you might expect from any system run by lawyers, salesmen and politicians - not dedicated medical professionals who love their job.

Rolly

Feb 27, 2012, 8:56 AM

Post #8 of 15 (2884 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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This is my experience with Hospital Angles in Torreón. Hospital Angles is a chain with hospitals in many cities. They are all top notch and attract many foreign health care tourists.
Here is my story copied from my website:
I was having serious breathing problems. It had been getting worse over the past five days, finally forcing me to call my doctor. After hearing the symptoms described over the phone, the doctor order me to go to Hospital Angles across the river in Torreón and gave me the name of a cardiologist affiliated with the hospital. He said it is the finest private hospital in the area. The hospital looks like a four star hotel, complete with a porte-cochere with a uniformed attendant who whisked me away in a wheelchair through a grand lobby and atrium to the urgent care area where I was met by an English-speaking doctor, a male nurse and a couple stout orderlies who helped me on to the gurney and hooked me up to oxygen.
The English-speaking cardiologist arrived shortly on a late Saturday afternoon. Then started the rounds of tests, x-rays, EKG, various injections, and, of course, that damn IV. in my bad hand. He confirmed what my local doctor had surmised; I had suffered a pulmonary embolism, and it was life-threatening.
He ordered me admitted to the hospital. After presenting my US credit card to the admitting office, I was wheeled up to a very nice room which, in Mexican custom, had a pullout bed for family. I wanted my friend Enrique to go home, the nurse said no, he needed to stay because my condition was unstable, and I should not be left alone. Gad how he snores!
The food was good and always more than I could eat. I was allowed to order each meal from a menu printed in both Spanish and English.
The nursing staff did not speak English, and my Spanish is a bit meager, but we managed just fine.
In my four days in the hospital there were more shots and pills than I can remember, two more EKGs, and a very interesting sonic scan of the heart. My doctor set the screen so I could watch the scan. Very interesting. The left side of my heart looked like other pictures I had seen, but the right side was obviously not OK.
I am self-insured, so I was a bit worried about all the high-tech stuff in this palatial hospital and a high-powered cardiologist.
The hospital bill was about US$2,800, and the doctor wanted only US$350 for his services including lengthy, unhurried visits twice each day.
My plan to self-insure still seems to be working. I have spent less on medical care in the past 8 years than insurance would have cost. In fact, it has all been covered by the money saved from dropping Medicare Part B.
If you have to get sick, Mexico is a good place to do it.

Rolly Pirate

GringoCArlos

Feb 27, 2012, 9:21 AM

Post #9 of 15 (2872 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Mexican Hospitals

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ISSSTE hospitals provide treatment to people who are uninsured/without means. Not positive, but believe this includes those with residency visas.There will probably be a 5 or 6 hour wait to see the doctor (first come, first served and a big line waiting) but treatment is free, or almost free (less than 100 pesos). If non-urgent surgery is needed, they may schedule it a month or two in the future. Good luck finding anything but Spanish spoken, unless one of your doctors apeaks it.

IMSS hospitals provide treatment and care to those insured in their system. Cost for care is almost free, typically 20-100 pesos out of pocket costs even for surgeries. Doctors typically have their own practices outside of the hospital too. IMSS may also schedule non-urgent surgery a month or two in advance.

There is also a Women's and Children's hospital in Queretaro for referred emergencies that are above the level of care for other hospitals in the state, both government and private hospitals. Free care here for women's, newborns or birth defect problems but only by referrals/transfers, and usually only for dire/urgent cases. They only allow a spouse/parent to visit - no one else.

(This post was edited by GringoCArlos on Feb 27, 2012, 9:22 AM)

esperanza

Feb 27, 2012, 9:42 AM

Post #10 of 15 (2862 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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In Reply To

One hundred and forty six views and not one singlle contribution. Seems a tremendous amount of folks are interested and not one person wishes to share. unbelievable!

Just a word as to why some people might look at but not respond to your post: the title, "Mexican Hospitals", really doesn't give much of a clue about what you would like to know. I read your post from beginning to end, but ultimately did not respond since I have not been hospitalized in Mexico. Many of us may have the same lack of experience.

It's possible that a different title to your original post--for example "Need Info about Mexican Hospitals"--might have elicited a better ratio of responses.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly

Feb 27, 2012, 9:48 AM

Post #11 of 15 (2860 views)

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Re: [GringoCArlos] Mexican Hospitals

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I believe you have confused ISSSTE with General Hospitals.
ISSSTE (Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado) is limited to government employees.
General Hospitals, thru Seguro Popular, is open to all who are not eligible for IMSS or ISSSTE.

Rolly Pirate

halfmexi

Feb 27, 2012, 1:43 PM

Post #12 of 15 (2809 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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Hospital General - Mexico City... superb equipment, amazing pain clinic and the foreign doctors (Columbian) were the best! But, the rooms were 4 beds to a room, sheets with holes, no pillows, bring your own drinking glass, plate, fork and spoon (no knives) - all plastic, one bathroom for the entire wing at the end of the hall - like a gym locker. You made yourself feel better fast to get out of there ASAP, don't look at the bill, just pay and get home to recover peacefully. Been 6 years and haven't had to return - will never forget the experience, quite an indoctrination into Mexico's medical system.

VOTE MAYAN ...For A New Tomorrow!

stevebrtx

Feb 27, 2012, 2:07 PM

Post #13 of 15 (2795 views)

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Re: [halfmexi] Mexican Hospitals

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A couple of things I didn't add the other night, this was 2 years ago and we met a doctor who was working with OHIP, Ontario Health etc. to get MXN hospitals approved for their CA insurance. They were doing certifications at that time. Also, everyone on staff had a uniform to id them, young ladies who spoke English came around every day asking if everything was ok and helped when we checked out etc. And, we were back a year later for followups and it was equally pleasant.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

gpkisner

Mar 1, 2012, 10:56 AM

Post #14 of 15 (2596 views)

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Re: [robt65] Mexican Hospitals

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My partner has spinal surgery 2 years ago at the Hospital Angeles in Leon, Guanajuato. Privet hospital with more than "full" service. He had a private room with a separate bed for me to sleep on also--there are no stupid "visiting hours". He ordeed his food from a menu and there was a free viseo "rental" service plus SKY TV. His surgery took 5 hours. There were 3 neurosurgeons involved and a specialized anesthesiologist. We called to make an appointment for the surgery on a Wednesday and he had the surgery on Friday evening. The entire cost--hospitals plus doctors' fees was $7500 (dollars), and the surgery was a complete success.

Moisheh

Mar 2, 2012, 2:00 PM

Post #15 of 15 (2474 views)

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Re: [GringoCArlos] Mexican Hospitals

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ISSTE hospitals are only for Government employees. They have their own medical system ( Not IMSS) and they do not admit outsiders( maybe an emergency). Certainly not indigent persons. I wanted to join their system as it is first class. I would not send a stray dog to an IMSS hospital. In Hermosillo we have a CIMA hospital. Twinned with a university hospital in Dallas. FIRST CLASS. The rates are about half or less of USA but still high. Some Blue Cross plans will cover you in that hospital. Other Insurance companies are working on providing coverage @ CIMA. They have International Accreditation. We have both had operations in this hospital. There are Heart Specialists and they have an Oncology Center.