After 2 years without a teeth cleaning it was time. Like everything else in Puerto Rico it is always a challenge to make initial appointments. This time it was very easy though - the wonderful office gal (Myra) at the Endocrinologist's office (where I was done with an appointment) called for me and made an appointment for the next day at 11. What we always wonder is....is 11 a "real" appointment or a "show up at eleven and get seen before bedtime" appointment. Well, 11 turned out to be 11:15 and I was in and had teeth cleaned and had a suspected cavity in a back tooth. Dr. Oliver thought it might need a root canal, and he referred me upstairs to an Endodoncia who does that sort of thing. A root canal? Never had one and didn't want one. He didn't like how the x-ray looked and every dentist I've ever had has pointed out that tooth and that problem.
The appointment at the Edndodoncia was a real time as well. She didn't like how the x-ray looked so took a couple more that still didn't help. She did a couple more tests and decided the only way to tell if something was going on was to open it up, remove the old filling, and have a look. She did that and determined it was a weird, concave twisted tooth that made an odd shadow on the x-ray but didn't have any problems. While I was still numbed up she called downstairs to Dr. Oliver who took me right away to put in the permanent filling. How's that for service? Everything was resolved by competent people for a $30 copay (20 bucks at the specialist and $10.20 for the filling and cleaning) without any waiting. In Seattle it would have been 2 weeks to see the Endodoncia and a week with a temporary filling. Am I just lucky? I'm really happy with doctors and dentists here - far more satisfied than in the states and I've never had health problems before. Here the problems get solved!
Showing posts with label Dr Visits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr Visits. Show all posts
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, September 8, 2008
How to Get a Tetanus Shot in Puerto Rico
For some reason you decide you need a Tetanus booster, maybe it's because of all the barb wire in your yard... Step 1, go to your doctor (Time & $) and have him give you a prescription. Step 2, find a pharmacy that has the Tetanus vaccine. (It seems to be hard to find) If you had the prescription called in (to save time) you can just go pick it up ($). When you pick it up did they take it from the shelf behind them?
If the answer was yes (like in my case) you need to inform the pharmacist that the vaccine needs to be refrigerated. They might tell you its ok because the store is air conditioned. I told them that 76 degree air conditioning is not the same as being refrigerated and could they please get me one from the refrigerator where it is stored. It might be fine that its not refrigerated but the packaging said it needs to be refrigerated so I wanted it that way. Step 3, Return to your doctor (Time & $) so he can administer the shot.
That's the cost of two Dr visits and the cost of the vaccine. Fortunately I didn't need to pay for the first visit. Seeing a Dr here can be very very time consuming and frustrating but I can also be very easy. We have just about figured it out. I needed an eye exam. I waited till 2pm and then drove to the closest Dr on my list that took my insurance. (It's easier for me to drive in and make the appointment then it is for me to call since my Spanish is very bad). I asked for an appointment and asked how it worked. I was told to come to the office between 5AM and 7AM. Sign up on the list on the door. The office opened at 7AM. Then I would be called to fill out paperwork between 7AM and 9AM. At 9AM the Dr arrives. Some point between 9AM and 5PM I would be called. I said that's CRAZY I cant wait all day. He assured me it wouldn't be all day. He said all the Dr's work this way. I drove to the next Dr on my list and they said they could see me in 20 minutes. No appointment needed right then. Had I come in at 8AM I probably would have had to wait until that afternoon.
If the answer was yes (like in my case) you need to inform the pharmacist that the vaccine needs to be refrigerated. They might tell you its ok because the store is air conditioned. I told them that 76 degree air conditioning is not the same as being refrigerated and could they please get me one from the refrigerator where it is stored. It might be fine that its not refrigerated but the packaging said it needs to be refrigerated so I wanted it that way. Step 3, Return to your doctor (Time & $) so he can administer the shot.
That's the cost of two Dr visits and the cost of the vaccine. Fortunately I didn't need to pay for the first visit. Seeing a Dr here can be very very time consuming and frustrating but I can also be very easy. We have just about figured it out. I needed an eye exam. I waited till 2pm and then drove to the closest Dr on my list that took my insurance. (It's easier for me to drive in and make the appointment then it is for me to call since my Spanish is very bad). I asked for an appointment and asked how it worked. I was told to come to the office between 5AM and 7AM. Sign up on the list on the door. The office opened at 7AM. Then I would be called to fill out paperwork between 7AM and 9AM. At 9AM the Dr arrives. Some point between 9AM and 5PM I would be called. I said that's CRAZY I cant wait all day. He assured me it wouldn't be all day. He said all the Dr's work this way. I drove to the next Dr on my list and they said they could see me in 20 minutes. No appointment needed right then. Had I come in at 8AM I probably would have had to wait until that afternoon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)