 Although a resident of Panama for the past five years, I like to
approach my experiences within Panama's private medical system as a
tourist. Why? It is a hell of a lot more fun interacting with
doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies in the mindset of a
vacationing tourist rather than that of a patient. I look at my
orthopedic surgeon as my tour guide who is going take me to a five star
resort (hospital) and introduce me to his favorite anesthesiologist
(bar tender) who is going to serve me a variety of delightful tropical
cocktails (pain killers) to help me relax on my vacation.
My luxurious suite comes with 24 room service (nurses) complete
with multiple visits by the local masseuse (physical therapist) all for
one special off season package of $4,000 (wow) of which I get an 80%
discount (local insurance company) for having booked early
(pre-approval). Now wasn't that more fun than your last visit to the
hospital.
Mine and my family's experience with the local
private medical care system has mostly been a positive one. I,
fortunately and unfortunately, am well qualified to make an assessment.
My wife and I have both had surgery in Panama, her a hernia and me an
achilles tendon operation, our son was born here along with all of the
accompanying pre and postnatal care, and I have been on three tours of
physical therapy - a knee, a shoulder, and currently my achilles tendon.
Coming from the USA, there are some marked
differences between private medical care in the USA and Panama.
Difference number one - the lack of sticker shock. My entire
operation cost will total about $4,000 and that includes pre and post
doctor visits, my initial MRI, two surgeons, an anesthesiologist,
hospital surgery charges, overnight stay in the hospital, a urologist,
drugs, and physical therapy. Considering my insurance will cover about
80% of the costs, I would say it was a down right bargain compared to
the same procedure in the United States. This didn't impress my wife
as much coming from the high quality hybrid socialized / private
medical system of Austria, but that's another story. As an American, I
wonder what I am paying for in the USA - some CEO's executive
compensation package in a managed health care corporation?
Difference number two - the amount of personal
attention you will receive from your doctor. I talked to my orthopedic
surgeon before my operation in the hospital - in the elevator, in the
prep room, and in the operation room before they put me under. We had
quality time together, enough for him to determine I was going to be a
lousy patient in the hospital as I was a borderline anxiety freak.
After the operation he came to my room twice to check on me. The next
morning, he checked on me again and he personally prepped and wrapped
my cast. He mentioned that if in a major city in the US, he wouldn't
be able to give this kind of personal medical care. When he was
training in the US and on an orthopedic rotation, he could see up to 40
or more patients a day in the hospital, in Panama it wouldn't exceed 10
allowing him to give better service and more attention to his patients.
Difference number three - recovery. With physical
therapy comes the imagery of hard work and pain, this doesn't go away
in Panama. However, it comes with a level of pampering unlike that of
some of the world's finer spas. Well staffed and professional, the
clinic that I chose was the perfect ending to my medical vacation.
Difference number four - due to the other
differences, you can actually enjoy it and join those of us who have
discovered this wonderful fantasy escape known as a medical vacation.
Image: grizzlymedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/hospital-bed1.jpg
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